He has ta'en his bow his arm o'er,
His bolts and arrows lang;
And he is to the gude green-wood
As fast as he could gang.20
O he's shot up, and he's shot down,
The bird upon the brier;
And he sent it hame to his ladye,
Bade her be of gude cheir.
O he's shot up, and he's shot down,25
The bird upon the thorn;
And sent it hame to his ladye,
Said he'd be hame the morn.
When he cam to his lady's bour door
He stude a little forbye,30
And there he heard a fou fause knight
Tempting his gay ladye.
For he's ta'en out a gay goud ring,
Had cost him many a poun',
"O grant me love for love, ladye,35
And this sall be thy own."
"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she said;
"I trew sae does he me;
I wadna gie Brown Adam's love
For nae fause knight I see."—40
Out has he ta'en a purse o' gowd,
Was a' fou to the string,
"O grant me love for love, ladye,
And a' this sall be thine."—
"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she says;45
"I wot sae does he me:
I wadna be your light leman,
For mair than ye could gie."—
Then out he drew his lang bright brand,
And flash'd it in her een;50
"Now grant me love for love, ladye,
Or thro' ye this sall gang!"—
Then, sighing, says that ladye fair,
"Brown Adam tarries lang!"—