O up and starts him, Brown Robin,
And swore by Our Ladye,
"No man shall come into this bour,
But first maun fight wi' me."
O they hae fought the wood within,125
Till the sun was going down;
And drops o' blood frae Rose the Red
Came pouring to the ground.
She leant her back against an aik,
Said, "Robin, let me be;130
For it is a ladye, bred and born,
That has fought this day wi' thee."
O seven foot he started back,
Cried, "Alas and woe is me!
For I wished never, in all my life,135
A woman's bluid to see:
"And that all for the knightly vow
I swore to Our Ladye;
But mair for the sake o' ae fair maid,
Whose name was White Lilly."140
Then out and spake her Rouge the Rounde,
And leugh right hertilie,
"She has been wi' ye this year and mair,
Though ye wistna it was she."
Now word is gane through all the land,145
Before a month was gane,
That a foresters page, in gude grene-wood,
Had born a bonny son.
The marvel gaed to the kings court,
And to the king himsell;150
"Now, by my fae," the king did say,
"The like was never heard tell!"
Then out and spake him Bauld Arthur,
And laugh'd right loud and hie—
"I trow some may has plaid the lown,155
And fled her ain countrie."
"Bring me my steid," the King can say,
"My bow and arrows keen;
And I'll gae hunt in yonder wood,
And see what's to be seen."160