'Twas on a night, an evening bright,
When the dew began to fa',
Lady Margaret was walking up and down,
Looking o'er her castle wa'.
She looked east, and she looked west, 5
To see what she could spy,
When a gallant knight came in her sight,
And to the gate drew nigh.
"You seem to be no gentleman,
You wear your boots so wide; 10
But you seem to be some cunning hunter,
You wear the horn so syde."
"I am no cunning hunter," he said,
"Nor ne'er intend to be;
But I am come to this castle 15
To seek the love of thee;
And if you do not grant me love,
This night for thee I'll die."
"If you should die for me, sir knight,
There's few for you will mane, 20
For mony a better has died for me
Whose graves are growing green.
"But ye maun read my riddle," she said,
"And answer me questions three;
And but ye read them right," she said, 25
"Gae stretch ye out and die.
"Now what is the flower, the ae first flower,
Springs either on moor or dale?
And what is the bird, the bonnie bonnie bird,
Sings on the evening gale?" 30
"The primrose is the ae first flower
Springs either on moor or dale;
And the thristlecock is the bonniest bird
Sings on the evening gale."
"But what's the little coin," she said, 35
"Wald buy my castle bound?
And what's the little boat," she said,
"Can sail the world all round?"