He took a stick into his hand,
Which he could bravely wiel,
And he's gane whistling o'er the lan', 35
Like a young hireman chiel.
[And] he gaed up yon high high hill,
And low down i the glen,
And there he saw a gay castell,
Wi turrets nine or ten. 40
And he has gone on, and farther on,
Till to the yett drew he,
And there he saw a lady fair,
That pleas'd the young man's ee.
He went streight to the greave's chamber, 45
And with humilitie,
Said, "Have ye any kind of work
For a hireman chiel like me?"
"What is the work that ye intend,
Or how can we agree? 50
Can ye plow, reap, and sow the corn,
And a' for meat and fee?"
"Yes, I can plow, and reap, and mow,
And sow the corn too;
I can weel manage horse and cow, 55
And a' for meat and fee."
"If ye can haud the plow right weel,
And sow the corn too,
By faith and troth, my hireman chiel,
We shall not part for fee." 60
He['s] put his hand in his pocket,
And taen out shillings nine;
Says, "Take ye that, my hireman chiel,
And turn in here and dine."
He acted all he took in hand, 65
His master lov'd him weel,
And the young lady of the land
Fell in love wi the hireman chiel.
How oft she tried to drown the flame,
And oft wept bitterlie; 70
But still she lov'd the hireman chiel,
So well's he pleas'd her ee.