She has written a broad letter,
And seal'd it wi' her hand,
And dropt it at the stable door, 75
Where the young man did stand.
"I am in love, my hireman chiel,
I'm deip in love wi thee;
And if ye think me worth your love,
I' the garden green meet me." 80
When he had read the letter o'er,
A loud loud laugh gae he;
Said, "If I manage my business well,
I'm sure to get my fee."
At night they met behind a tree, 85
Low in the garden green,
To tell their tale among the flowers,
And view the e'ening scene.
Next morning by the rising sun,
She, with her maries fair, 90
Walk'd to the fields to see the plow,
And meet the hireman there.
"Good morn, good morn, my lady gay,
I wonder much at you,
To rise so early in the morn, 95
While fields are wet wi dew,
To hear the linnets on the thorn,
And see the plow-boy plow."
"But I wonder much at you, young man,
I wonder much at you, 100
That ye no other station have
Than hold my father's plow."
"I love as weel to rise each morn
As ye can your maries fair;
I love as weel to hold the plow 105
As I were your father's heir.
"If ye love me, as ye protest,
And I trust weel ye do,
The morn's night at eight o'clock,
In gude green wood meet me." 110
"Yes, I love you, my hireman chiel,
And that most tenderlie,
But when my virgin honor's gone,
I soon will slighted be."