17
'But I nor maid nor maiden am,
For I'm wi bairn to another man.'
18
'I thought I'd a maiden sae meek and sae mild,
But I've nought but a woman wi child.'
19
His mother's taen her up to a tower,
And lockit her in her secret bower.
20
'Now, doughter mine, come tell to me,
Wha's bairn this is that you are wi.'
21
'O mother dear, I canna learn
Wha is the faither of my bairn.
22
'But as I walkd in the lowlands my lane,
I met a gentleman gallant and fine.
23
'He keepit me there sae late and sae lang,
Frae the evning late till the morning dawn.
24
'And a' that he gied me to my propine
Was a pair of green gloves and a gay gold ring;
25
'Three lauchters of his yellow hair,
In case that we shoud meet nae mair.'
26
His lady mother went down the stair:
. . . . . . .