When Rose the Red, and White Lilly,
Saw their twa loves were gane,
Sune did they drop the loud loud sang,
Took up the still mourning.
And out then spake her White Lilly;45
"My sister, we'll be gane:
Why suld we stay in Barnisdale,
To mourn our bour within?"
O cutted hae they their green cloathing,
A little abune their knee,50
And sae hae they their yellow hair,
A little abune their bree.
And left hae they that bonny bour,
To cross the raging sea;
And they hae ta'en to a holy chapel,55
Was christened by Our Ladye.
And they hae changed their twa names,
Sae far frae ony toun;
And the tane o' them's hight Sweet Willie,
And the tother's Rouge the Rounde.60
Between the twa a promise is,
And they hae sworn it to fulfil;
Whenever the tane blew a bugle-horn,
The tother suld cum her till.
Sweet Willie's gane to the kings court,65
Her true love for to see;
And Rouge the Rounde to gude grene-wood,
Brown Robin's man to be.
O it fell anes, upon a time,
They putted at the stane;70
And seven foot ayont them a',
Brown Robin's gar'd it gang.
She lifted the heavy putting-stane,
And gave a sad "Ohon!"
Then out bespake him, Brown Robin,75
"But that's a woman's moan!"
"O kent ye by my rosy lips?
Or by my yellow hair?
Or kent ye by my milk-white breast,
Ye never yet saw bare?"80