XIII
Then he has stay’d in bower wi’ her
For six lang years and ane,
Till six young sons to him she bare,
And the seventh she’s brought hame.
XIV
But aye, as ever a child was born,
He carried them away,
And brought them to his mither’s care
As fast as he could fly.
XV
When he had stay’d in bower wi’ her
For seven lang years an’ mair
There cam’ a lord o’ high renown
To court this lady fair.
XVI
But still his proffer she refused
And a’ his presents too;
Says, ‘I’m content to live alane
Wi’ my bird Coo-me-doo.’
XVII
Her father swore a michty oath
Amang the nobles all,
‘The morn, or ere I eat or drink,
This bird I will gar kill.’