"Why weep ye by the tide, lady?25
Why weep ye by the tide?
How blythe and happy might he be
Gets you to be his bride!
Gets you to be his bride, fair maid,
And him I'll no bemean;30
But when I take my words again,
Whom call ye Hazelgreen?
"What like a man was Hazelgreen?
Will ye show him to me?"
"He is a comely proper youth,35
I in my sleep did see;
Wi' arms tall, and fingers small,—
He's comely to be seen;"
And aye she loot the tears down fall
For John o' Hazelgreen.40
"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen,
And go along with me,
I'll wed you to my eldest son,
Make you a lady free."
"It's for to wed your eldest son45
I am a maid o'er mean;
I'll rather stay at home," she says,
"And die for Hazelgreen."
"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen,
And go along with me,50
I'll wed you to my second son,
And your weight o' gowd I'll gie."
"It's for to wed your second son
I am a maid o'er mean;
I'll rather stay at home," she says,55
"And die for Hazelgreen."
Then he's taen out a siller comb,
Comb'd down her yellow hair;
And looked in a diamond bright,
To see if she were fair.60
"My girl, ye do all maids surpass
That ever I have seen;
Cheer up your heart, my lovely lass,
And hate young Hazelgreen."
"Young Hazelgreen he is my love,65
And ever mair shall be;
I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen
For a' the gowd ye'll gie."
But aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!
And made a piteous meen;70
And aye she loot the tears down fa',
For John o' Hazelgreen.
He looked high, and lighted low,
Set her upon his horse;
And they rode on to Edinburgh,75
To Edinburgh's own cross.
And when she in that city was,
She look'd like ony queen;
"'Tis a pity such a lovely lass
Shou'd love young Hazelgreen."80
"Young Hazelgreen, he is my love,
And ever mair shall be;
I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen
For a' the gowd ye'll gie."
And aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!85
And made a piteous meen;
And aye she loot the tears down fa',
For John o' Hazelgreen.