"Ye'll tak the kerchief in your hand,
And wi' the same tie up your een;
Then ye may swear and save your aith,
Ye saw me na since yestere'en."
It was about the midnight hour,
When they asleep were laid,
When in and cam her seven brothers,
Wi' torches burning red.
When in and cam her seven brothers,
Wi' torches burning bright;
They said, "We hae but ae sister,
And behold she's wi' a knight."
Then out and spak the first o' them,
"We'll awa' and lat them be."
And out and spak the second o' them,
"His father has nae mair than he!"
And out and spak the third o' them,
"I wot they are lovers dear!"
And out and spak the fourth o' them,
"They hae lo'ed this mony a year!"
Then out and spak the fifth o' them,
"It were sin true love to twain!"
"'Twere shame," out spak the sixth o' them,
"To slay a sleeping man!"
Then up and gat the seventh o' them,
And never a word spak he;
But he has striped his bright brown brand
Through Saunders' fair bodie.
Clerk Saunders started, and Margaret she turned,
Into his arms as asleep she lay;
And sad and silent was the night,
That was atween thir twae.
And they lay still and sleepit sound,
Till the day began to daw;
And kindly to him she did say,
"It is time, love, you were awa'."
But he lay still, and sleepit sound,
Till the sun began to sheen;
She looked atween her and the wa',
And dull, dull were his een.