B.
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 185. b. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 120.
1
'O Willie my son, what makes you sae sad?'
As the sun shines over the valley
'I lye sarely sick for the love of a maid.'
Amang the blue flowers and the yellow
2
'Were she an heiress or lady sae free,
That she will take no pity on thee?
3
'O Willie, my son, I'll learn you a wile,
How this fair maid ye may beguile.
4
'Ye'll gie the principal bellman a groat,
And ye'll gar him cry your dead lyke-wake.'
5
Then he gae the principal bellman a groat,
He bade him cry his dead lyke-wake.
6
This maiden she stood till she heard it a',
And down frae her cheeks the tears did fa.
7
She is hame to her father's ain bower:
'I'll gang to yon lyke-wake ae single hour.'
8
'Ye must take with you your ain brither John;
It's not meet for maidens to venture alone.'