9 'O here am I, a bonny boy,
Will rin your errand soon;
I will gang into fair England,
An come right soon again.'
10 O whan he came to broken briggs,
He bent his bow and swam;
An whan he came to the green grass growan,
He slaikid his shoone an ran.
11 Whan he came to yon high castèl,
He ran it roun about,
An there he saw the king's daughter,
At the window looking out.
12 'O here's a sark o silk, lady,
Your ain han sewd the sleeve;
You'r bidden come to fair Scotlan,
Speer nane o your parents leave.
13 'Ha, take this sark o silk, lady,
Your ain han sewd the gare;
You're bidden come to good green wood,
Love Johney waits you there.'
14 She's turnd her right and roun about,
The tear was in her ee:
'How can I come to my true-love,
Except I had wings to flee?
15 'Here am I kept wi bars and bolts,
Most grievous to behold;
My breast-plate's o the sturdy steel,
Instead of the beaten gold.
16 'But tak this purse, my bonny boy,
Ye well deserve a fee,
An bear this letter to my love,
An tell him what you see.'
17 Then quickly ran the bonny boy
Again to Scotlan fair,
An soon he reachd Pitnachton's towrs,
An soon found Johney there.
18 He pat the letter in his han
An taul him what he sa,
But eer he half the letter read,
He loote the tears doun fa.