[THE HIREMAN CHIEL.]
From Scarce Ancient Ballads, p. 17. The same in Buchan, ii. 109, The Baron turned Ploughman.
There was a knight, a barone bright,
A bauld barone was he,
And he had only but one son,
A comely youth to see.
He's brought him at schools nine, 5
So has he at schools ten,
But the boy learn'd to haud the plow
Among his father's men.
But it fell ance upon a day
The bauld barone did say, 10
"My son you maun gae court a wife,
And ane o high degree.
"Ye have lands, woods, rents, and bouirs,
Castels and touirs three;
Then go my son and seek some dame 15
To share that gift wi' thee."
"Yes, I have lands and woods, father,
Castels and touirs three;
But what if she like my lands and rents
Far more than she loves me? 20
"But I will go and seek a wife
That weel can please mine ee,
And I sall fairly try her love
Before she gang wi me."
He then took off the scarlet coat, 25
Bedeck'd wi shinin' gold,
And has put on the hireman's coat,
To keip him frae the cold.
He then laid past the studded sword,
That he could bravely draw, 30
And he's gone skipping down the stair,
Swift as the bird that flaw.