II
‘O hearken weel now, my good lord,
O hearken weel to what I say;
When ye gang to the wall[225] o’ Stream
O gang nae near the weel-faur’d may[226].’
III
‘O haud your tongue, my gay ladie,
Now speak nae mair of that to me;
For I nae saw a fair woman
[That I cou’d] like so well as thee.’
IV
He’s mounted on his berry-brown steed,
And merry, merry rade he on,
Till that he came to the wall o’ Stream,
And there he saw the mermaiden.
V
‘Ye wash, ye wash, ye bonny may,
And ay’s ye wash your sark o’ silk.’—
‘It’s a’ for ye, you gentle knight,
My skin is whiter than the milk.’
VI
He’s ta’en her by the milk-white hand,
He’s ta’en her by the sleeve sae green,
And he’s forgotten his gay ladie,
And he’s awa’ wi’ the mermaiden.