"Now, auld man, give to me your begging weed,
And I will give to thee my riding steed;
And, auld man, give to me your staff of tree,
And my scarlet cloak I will give to thee.
"And you must teach me the auld beggar's role,
As he goes his rounds, and receives his dole."
The auld man he did as young Hynde Horn said,
And taught him the way to beg for his bread.
Then Hynde Horn bent him to his staff of tree,
And to the king's palace away hobbled he;
And when he arrived at the king's palace gate,
To the porter he thus his petition did state:
"Good porter, I pray, for Saints Peter and Paul,
And for sake of the Saviour who died for us all,
For one cup of wine, and one bit of bread,
To an auld man with travel and hunger bestead.
"And ask the fair bride, for the sake of Hynde Horn,
To hand them to one so sadly forlorn."
Then the porter for pity the message convey'd,
And told the fair bride all the beggar man said.
And when she did hear it, she tripp'd down the stair,
And in her fair hands did lovingly bear
A cup of red wine, and a farle of cake,
To give the old man, for loved Hynde Horn's sake.
And when she came to where Hynde Horn did stand,
With joy he did take the cup from her hand;
Then pledged the fair bride, the cup out did drain,
Dropp'd in it the ring, and return'd it again.
"Oh, found you that ring by sea or on land,
Or got you that ring off a dead man's hand?"
"Oh, I found not that ring by sea or on land,
But I got that ring from a fair lady's hand.
"As a pledge of true love she gave it to me,
Full seven years ago, as I sail'd o'er the sea;
But now that the diamonds are chang'd in their hue,
I know that my love has to me proved untrue."
"Oh, I will cast off my gay costly gown,
And follow thee on from town unto town,
And I will take the gold combs from my hair,
And follow my true love for ever mair."