"Ye ha'e asked many questions, lady,
I've you as many told;"
"But, how many pennies round
Make a hundred pounds in gold?
"How many of the small fishes, 65
Do swim the salt seas round?
Or, what's the seemliest sight you'll see
Into a May morning?"
"Berry-brown ale, and a birken speal,
And wine in a horn green; 70
A milk-white lace in a fair maid's dress,
Looks gay in a May morning."
"Mony's the questions I've ask'd at thee,
And ye've answer'd them a';
Ye are mine, and I am thine, 75
Amo' the sheets sae sma'."
"You may be my match, kind sir,
You may be my match and more;
There ne'er was ane came sic a length,
Wi' my father's heir before. 80
"My father's lord o' nine castles,
My mother she's lady ower three,
And there is nane to heir them all,
No never a ane but me;
Unless it be Willie, my ae brother, 85
But he's far ayont the sea."
"If your father's laird o' nine castles,
Your mother lady ower three;
I am Willie your ae brother,
Was far beyond the sea." 90
"If ye be Willie, my ae brother,
As I doubt sair ye be;
But if it's true ye tell me now,
This night I'll gang wi' thee."
"Ye've ower ill washen feet, Janet, 95
And ower ill washen hands,
And ower coarse robes on your body,
Alang wi' me to gang.
"The worms they are my bed-fellows,
And the cauld clay my sheet; 100
And the higher that the wind does blaw,
The sounder I do sleep.