A
Herd's Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 305.
1 The knight stands in the stable-door,
As he was for to ryde,
When out then came his fair lady,
Desiring him to byde.
2 'How can I byde? how dare I byde?
How can I byde with thee?
Have I not killd thy ae brother?
Thou hadst nae mair but he.'
3 'If you have killd my ae brother,
Alas, and woe is me!
But if I save your fair body,
The better you'll like me.'
4 She's tane him to her secret bower,
Pinnd with a siller pin,
And she's up to her highest tower,
To watch that none come in.
5 She had na well gane up the stair,
And entered in her tower,
When four and twenty armed knights
Came riding to the door.
6 'Now God you save, my fair lady,
I pray you tell to me,
Saw you not a wounded knight
Come riding by this way?'
7 'Yes, bloody, bloody was his sword,
And bloody were his hands;
But if the steed he rides be good,
He's past fair Scotland's strands.