6 She has calld upon her bower-maidens,
She has calld them ane by ane:
'There lies a deid man in my bowr,
I wish that he were gane.'
7 They hae booted him, and spurred him,
As he was wont to ride,
A hunting-horn tied round his waist,
A sharp sword by his side;
And they hae had him to the wan water,
For a' men call it Clyde.
8 Then up and spake the popinjay,
That sat upon the tree:
'What hae ye done wi Erl Richard?
Ye were his gaye ladye.'
9 'Come down, come down, my bonny bird,
And sit upon my hand;
And thou sall hae a cage o gowd,
Where thou hast but the wand.'
10 'Awa, awa, ye ill woman,
Nae cage o gowd for me;
As ye hae dune to Erl Richard,
Sae wad ye do to me.'
11 She hadna crossd a rigg o land,
A rigg but barely ane,
When she met wi his auld father,
Came riding all alane.
12 'Where hae ye been, now, ladye fair,
Where hae ye been sae late?
We hae been seeking Erl Richard,
But him we canna get.'
13 'Erl Richard kens a' the fords in Clyde,
He'll ride them ane by ane;
And though the night was neer sae mirk,
Erl Richard will be hame.'
14 O it fell anes upon a day
The king was boun to ride,
And he has mist him Erl Richard,
Should hae ridden on his right side.
15 The ladye turnd her round about,
Wi mickle mournfu din:
'It fears me sair o Clyde water,
That he is drownd therein.'