The younges[t] stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an threw her in.

She tooke her by the middle sma,
And dashd her bonny back to the jaw

"O sister, sister, tak my han,

An Ise mack you heir to a' my lan.

"O sister, sister, tak my middle,

4

An yes get my goud and my gouden girdle.

"O sister, sister, save my life,

An I swear Ise never be nae man's wife."

"Foul fa the han that I should tacke, It twin'd me an my wardles make.

"Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair Gars' me gae maiden for evermair."

Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.

O out it came the miller's son,
An saw the fair maid swimmin in.

"O father, father, draw your dam, Here's either a mermaid or a swan."

The miller quickly drew the dam,
'An there he found a drownd woman.

You coudna see her yallow hair
For gold and pearle that were so rare.

You coudna see her middle sma

For gouden girdle that was sae braw.

* Current. 2 I will. 3 Ye shall.
4 Gold.
World's mate. ▾ Causes.

5 Separated.

I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie O."

"Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,

Edward, Edward,

Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,

Mither, mither,

"And whatten penance wul ye drie for that,

Edward, Edward, 'And whatten penance will ye drie for that? My deir son, now tell me O."

"Ile set my feit in yonder boat,

Mither, mither,

Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
And Ile fare ovir the sea O."

66

And what wul ye doe wi your towirs and your ha, Edward, Edward? And what wul you doe wi your towirs and your ha, That were sae fair to see O?"

"Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa,

Mither, mither,

Ile let thame stand till they down fa,
For here nevir mair maun I bee O."

"And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,

Edward, Edward?

And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Whan ye gang ovir the sea O?"

"The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,

Mither, mither,

The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
For thame nevir mair wul I see O.”

“And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?
My deir son, now tell me O.”

"The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,

Mither, mither,

The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counseils ye gave to me O."

And they went out to pull a flower,
On the bonnie banks o Fordie

They hadna pu'ed a flower but ane,
When up started to them a banisht man.

He's taen the first sister by her hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?”

"It's I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife."

He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.

He's taken the second ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?"

7

"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife.”

He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.

He's taken the youngest ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.

Says, "Will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?"

"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife.

"For I hae a brother in this wood,
And gin ye kill me, it's he'll kill thee."

"What's thy brother's name? come tell to me." "My brother's name is Baby Lon."

66

"O sister, sister, what have I done!
O have I done this ill to thee!

66

"O since I've done this evil deed,
Good sall' never be seen o me."

He's taken out his wee pen-knife,

And he's twyned' himsel o his ain sweet life.

HIND HORN

IN Scotland there was a babie born,

And his name it was called young Hind Horn.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.

He sent a letter to our king

That he was in love with his daughter Jean.

1 Shall. 2 Deprived.