20
Then up it raise her Dame Essels,
Sought water to wash her hands,
But aye the faster that she washd,
The tears they trickling ran.
21
Then in it came her father dear,
And in the floor steps he:
'What ails Dame Essels, my daughter dear,
Ye weep sae bitterlie?
22
'Want ye a small fish frae the flood,
Or turtle frae the sea?
Or is there man in a' my realm
This day has offended thee?'
23
'I want nae small fish frae the flood,
Nor turtle frae the sea;
But Young Bondwell, your ain prisoner,
This day has offended me.'
24
Her father turnd him round about,
A solemn oath sware he:
'If this be true ye tell me now
High hanged he shall be.
25
'To-morrow morning he shall be
Hung high upon a tree:'
Dame Essels whisperd to hersel,
'Father, ye've made a lie.'
26
She dressd hersel in robes o green,
Her maids in robes sae fair,
Wi gowden girdles round their middles,
Sae costly, rich and rare.
27
She's taen her mantle her about,
A maiden in every hand;
They saw a ship, wi sails a' up,
Come sailing to dry land.
28
She's taen a wand intill her hand,
And stroked her round about,
And she's taen God her pilot to be,
To drown she took nae doubt.
29
So they saild on, and further on,
Till to the water o Tay;
There they spied a bonny little boy,
Was watering his steeds sae gay.