I
‘O well’s me o’ my gay goss-hawk,
That he can speak and flee!
He’ll carry a letter to my love,
Bring back another to me.’—
II
‘O how can I your true-love ken,
Or how can I her know?
Whan frae her mouth I never heard couth[416],
Nor wi’ my eyes her saw.’—
III
‘O well sall ye my true-love ken,
As soon as you her see;
For, of a’ the flow’rs in fair England,
The fairest flow’r is she.
IV
‘At even at my love’s bower-door
There grows a bowing birk,
An’ sit ye down and sing thereon,
As she gangs to the kirk.
V
‘An’ four-and-twenty ladies fair
Will wash and go to kirk,
But well sall ye my true-love ken,
For she wears gowd on her skirt.