7 And when he fand the bridges broke,
He bent his bow and swam,
But when he fand the grass growing,
He slacked it and ran.
8 And when he came to that lord's gate,
Stopt not to knock nor call,
But set his bent bow to his breast,
And lightly lap the wall.
9 And ere the porter was at the gate
The boy was in the hall,
And in that noble lord's presence
He on his knee did fall.
10 'O is my biggins broken?' he said,
'Or is my towers won?
Or is my lady lighter yet,
Of daughter or of son?'
11 'Your biggins are not broken,' he said,
'Nor is your towers won,
Nor is your lady lighter yet,
Of daughter or of son;
But if you stay a little time
Her life it will be gone.
12 'For her father's gone to the fire,
Her brother to the whin,
Even to kindle a bold bonfire,
To burn her body in.'
13 'Go saddle for me in haste,' he cried,
'A brace of horses soon;
Go saddle for me the swiftest steeds
That ever rode to a town.'
14 The first steed that he rade on,
For he was as jet black,
He rode him far, and very far,
But he fell down in a slack.
15 The next steed that he rode on,
He was a berry brown;
He bore him far, and very far,
But at the last fell down.
16 The next steed that he rode on,
He was as milk so white;
Fair fall the mare that foaled the foal
Took him to Janet's lyke!