His father made moan, his mother made moan,
But Meggie reave her yellow hair.
256
ALISON AND WILLIE
A. ‘My luve she lives in Lincolnshire,’ Harris MS., fol. 18 b; Mrs Harris. b. ‘Alison’ Buchan’s MSS., I, 231.
Alison gaily invites Willie to her wedding; he will not come unless to be the bridegroom, with her for bride. That day you will never see, says Alison; once on your horse, you will have no more mind of me than if I were dead. Willie rides slowly away, and his heart breaks with the pains of love; he dies by the way, and is left to the birds. A letter stops the wedding, and breaks Alison’s heart.
Stanza 7 must be left to those who can interpret Thomas of Erceldoune’s prophecies.
1
‘My luve she lives in Lincolnshire,
I wat she’s neither black nor broun,