O ’twas a merry weddin’, and the portion down told,
Of bonny Jeanie Melville, scarce sixteen years old!
[86. Lady Elspat]
I
‘O brent’s[532] your brow, my Lady Elspat;
O gowden yellow is your hair!
Of a’ the maids o’ fair Scotland
There’s nane like Lady Elspat fair.’
II
‘Perform your vows,’ she says, ‘Sweet William;
The vows which ye ha’ made to me;
And at the back o’ my mither’s castle
This night I’ll surely meet wi’ thee.’
III
But wae be to her brother’s page,
Wha heard the words this twa did say!
He’s tauld them to her lady mither,
Wha wrought Sweet William mickle wae.