‘Ere the King my fair country get,
This land that’s nativest to me,
Mony o’ his nobles sall be cauld,
Their ladies sall be right wearíe.’
XXV
Then spak’ his lady, fair of face:
She said, ‘’Twere without consent of me,
That an outlaw suld come before a King;
I am right rad[528] of treasonrie.
Bid him be gude to his lords at hame,
For Edinburgh my lord sall never see.’
XXVI
James Boyd took his leave o’ the Outlaw keen,
To Edinboro’ boun’ is he;
When James he cam’ before the King,
He kneelèd lowly on his knee.
XXVII
‘Welcome, James Boyd!’ said our noble King,
‘What forest is Ettrick Forest free?’—
‘Ettrick Forest is the fairest forest
That ever man saw wi’ his e’e.
XXVIII
‘There’s the dae, the rae, the hart, the hin’,
And of a’ wild beasts great plentie;
There’s a pretty castle of lime and stane,
O gif it stands not pleasantlie!