3
'I'm walking in my feyther's shaws:' quo he, My charming maid,
I am much better than I look, so be you not afraid;
For I serve the queen of a' Scotland, and a gentil dame is she;
So we'se be married ere the morn, gin ye can fancy me.
4
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
'The sparrow shall toot on his horn, gif naething us befa,
And I'll mak you up a down-bed, and lay you next the wa.
5
'Now hold away from me, kind sir, I pray you let me be;
I wont be lady of your ha till you answer questions three:
Questions three you must answer me, and that is one and twa,
Before I gae to Woodland's house, and be lady o your ha.
6
'You must get me to my supper a chicken without a bone;
You must get me to my supper a cherry without a stone;
You must get me to my supper a bird without a ga,
Before I go to Woodland's house and be lady of your ha.'
7
'When the cherry is in the bloom, I'm sure it has no stone;
When the chicken's in the shell, I'm sure it has nae bone;
The dove she is a gentil bird, and flies without a ga;
So I've answered you your questions three, and you're lady of my ha.'
* * * * *
8
'Questions three you must answer me: What's higher than the trees?
And what is worse than woman's voice? What's deeper than the seas?'
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
9
He answered then so readily: Heaven's higher than the trees;
The devil's worse than woman's voice; hell's deeper than the seas;
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
10
'One question still you must answer me, or you I laugh to scorn;
Go seek me out an English priest, of woman never born;'
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
11
'Oh then,' quo he, 'my young brother from mother's side was torn,
And he's a gentil English priest, of woman never born;'
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .