63 This word she had no sooner spoke,
But straight he was tripping over;
The plank was sawd, and snapping broke;
He provd an unhappy lover.
D
a. Herd's Ancient and Modern Scots, p. 328, 1769. b. Dixon, Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England, p. 123, Percy Society, vol. xvii; Bell, p. 80.
1 There was a shepherd's son
Kept sheep upon a hill;
He laid his pipe and crook aside,
And there he slept his fill.
Sing, Fal deral, etc.
2 He looked east, he looked west,
Then gave an under-look,
And there he spyed a lady fair,
Swimming in a brook.
3 He raisd his head frae his green bed,
And then approachd the maid;
'Put on your claiths, my dear,' he says,
'And be ye not afraid.
4 ''Tis fitter for a lady fair
To sew her silken seam
Than to get up in a May morning
And strive against the stream.'
5 'If you'll not touch my mantle,
And let my claiths alane,
Then I'll give you as much money
As you can carry hame.'
6 'O I'll not touch your mantle,
And I'll let your claiths alane;
But I'll tak you out of the clear water,
My dear, to be my ain.'
7 And when she out of the water came,
He took her in his arms:
'Put on your claiths, my dear,' he says,
'And hide those lovely charms.'