"Gin it please your grace," quo' Bauld Arthur,
"My liege, I'll gang you wi',
And see gin I can meet a bonny page,
That's stray'd awa frae me."
And they hae chased in gude green-wood,165
The buck but and the rae,
Till they drew near Brown Robin's bour,
About the close o' day.
Then out an' spake the king himsell,
Says, "Arthur, look and see,170
Gin yon be not your favourite page,
That leans against yon tree."
O Arthur's ta'en a bugle-horn,
And blawn a blast sae shrill;
Sweet Willie started to her feet,175
And ran him quickly till.
"O wanted ye your meat, Willie,
Or wanted ye your fee?
Or gat ye e'er an angry word,
That ye ran awa frae me?"180
"I wanted nought, my master dear;
To me ye aye was good:
I cam to see my ae brother,
That wons in this grene-wood."
Then out bespake the King again,—185
"My boy, now tell to me,
Who dwells into yon bigly bour,
Beneath yon green aik tree?"
"O pardon me," said sweet Willy,
"My liege, I darena tell;190
And gangna near yon outlaw's bour,
For fear they suld you kill."
"O haud your tongue, my bonny boy,
For I winna be said nay;
But I will gang yon bour within,195
Betide me weal or wae."
They have lighted frae their milk-white steids,
And saftlie entered in;
And there they saw her, White Lilly,
Nursing her bonny young son.200