12 'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the knife!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
tho I lay doun my life.'
13 'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the kame!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
till his daddy come hame.'
14 'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the bell!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
till ye come doun yoursell.'
15 'It's how can I come down,
this cauld winter nicht,
Without eer a coal,
or a clear candle-licht?'
16 'There's two smocks in your coffer,
as white as a swan;
Put one of them about you,
it will shew you licht down.'
17 She took ane o them about her,
and came tripping doun;
But as soon as she viewed,
Balankin was in.
18 'Good morrow, good morrow,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Good morrow to yoursell, sir,'
said the lady to him.
19 'O save my life, Balankin,
till my husband come back,
And I'll gie you as much red gold
as you'll hold in your hat.'
20 'I'll not save your life, lady,
till your husband come back,
Tho you would give me as much red gold
as I could hold in a sack.
21 'Will I kill her?' quo Balankin,
'will I kill her, or let her be?'
'You may kill her,' said the false nurse,
'she was neer good to me;
And ye'll be laird of the castle,
and I'll be ladie.'