O when she saw Wise William's wife,
The queen fell on her knee;
"Win up, win up, madame!" she says:
"What needs this courtesie?"
"O out o' this I winna rise,
"Till a boon ye grant to me;
"To change your lass for this lad bairn,
"King Honour left me wi'.
"And ye maun learn my gay goss hawk
"Right weel to breast a steed;
"And I sall learn your turtle dow[2]
"As weel to write and read.
"And ye maun learn my gay goss hawk
"To wield baith bow and brand;
"And I sall learn your turtle dow
"To lay gowd[3] wi' her hand.
"At kirk and market when we meet,
"We'll dare make nae avowe,
"But—'Dame, how does my gay goss hawk?'
"Madame, how does my dow?"
When days were gane, and years came on,
Wise William he thought lang;
And he has ta'en King Honour's son
A hunting for to gang.
It sae fell out, at this hunting,
Upon a simmer's day,
That they came by a fair castell,
Stood on a sunny brae.
"O dinna ye see that bonny castell,
"Wi' halls and towers sae fair?
"Gin ilka man had back his ain,
"Of it ye suld be heir."
"How I suld be heir of that castell,
"In sooth I canna see;
"For it belangs to Fause Foodrage,
"And he is na kin to me."
"O gin ye suld kill him, Fause Foodrage,
"You would do but what was right;
"For I wot he kill'd your father dear,
"Or ever ye saw the light.