And when she saw the stately tower
Shining so clear and bright,
That stood aboon the jarring wave
Built on a rock of height;

Says; Row the boat, my mariners,
And bring me to the land,
For yonder I spy my love's castle,
Close by the salt sea strand.'

She sailed it round, and sailed it round,
And loud loud cried she,

'Now break, now break, ye fairy charms, And set my true love free!'

She's ta'en her young son in her arms,
And to the door she's gane;

And lang she knocked, and sair she ca'd,
But answer got she nane.

'O open the door, Lord Gregory! O open and let me in!

For the wind blaws through my yellow hair, And the rain drops o'er my chin.'

'Awa, awa, ye ill woman,
Ye're no come here for good,
Ye're but some witch, or wild warlock,

Or mermaid o' the flood.'

'I am neither witch, nor wild warlock, Nor mermaid o' the sea,

But I am Annie of Lochroyan;
O open the door to me!'

'Gin thou be the lass o' Lochroyan, (As I trow thou binna she,) Tell me some of the love-tokens, That pass'd between thee and me.'

'O dinna ye mind, Lord Gregory, As we sat at the wine,

We changed the rings from our fingers, And I can show thee thine ?

'O yours was gude, and gude enough, But aye the best was mine;

Yours was o' the gude red gowd,
But mine o' the diamond fine.

Now open the door, Lord Gregory!
Open the door, I pray!

For thy young son is in my arms,
And will be dead ere day.'

If thou be Annie of Lochroyan, (As I kenna thou be,)

Tell me some mair o' the love-tokens, That pass'd between me and thee.'

Fair Annie turned her round about:

'And O! if it be sae,

May never a woman that has borne a son
Hae a heart sae fou o' wae!

'Take down, take down, that mast o' gowd!

Set up a mast o' tree!

It disna become a forsaken lady
To sail sae royally!'

When the cock had crawn and the day did dawn,
And the sun began to peep,

Then up and raise him Lord Gregory
And sair sair did he weep.

· O I hae dreamed a dream, mother,
I wish it may prove true!
That the bonny lass o' Lochroyan
Was at the door e'en now.

'OI hae dreamed a dream, mother, The thought o'tgars me greet! That fair Annie o' Lochroyan.

Lay cauld dead at my feet.'

'Gin it be for Annie of Lochroyan,
That ye make a' this din,
She stood a' last night at your door,
But I trow she wan na in.'

'O wae betide ye, ill woman!
An ill death may ye die!
That wadna open the door to her,
Nor yet wad waken me!'

O he's gane down to yon shore side
As fast as he can fare

He saw fair Annie in the boat
But the wind it rocked her sair.

'And hey, Annie, and how, Annie!
O Annie, winna ye bide?'
But aye the mair he cried Annie,
The braider grew the tide.

'And hey, Annie, and how, Annie,
Dear Annie, speak to me!'
But aye the louder he cried Annie,
The louder roared the sea.

The wind blew loud, the sea grew rough
And dashed the boat on the shore;
Fair Annie floated through the faem,
But the babie rose no more.

Lord Gregory tore his yellow hair,
And made a heavy moan,
Fair Annie's corse lay at his feet,
Her fair young son was gone.

O cherry, cherry was her cheek,
And gowden was her hair,
But clay cold were her rosy lips,
Nae spark o' life was there.

And first he kissed her cherry cheek,
And syne he kissed her chin,
And syne he kissed her rosy lips,
There was nae breath within.

'O wae betide my cruel mother!
An ill death may she die!
She turned my true love frae my door,
Wha came sae far to me.

'O wae betide my cruel mother,
An ill death maun she die!
She turned fair Annie from my door,

Wha died for love o' me.'

Scottish Border Minstrelsy.

[Glossary. - Jimp, slender; tows, ropes; jawing, dashing.]