Francis James Child

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'HOW brent's your brow, my Lady Elspat!
How golden yallow is your hair!
Of all the maids of fair Scotland,
There's nane like Lady Elspat fair.'
'Perform your vows, Sweet William,' she says,
'The vows which ye ha made to me,
An at the back o my mother's castle
This night I'll surely meet wi thee.'
But wae be to her brother's page,
Who heard the words this twa did say! ”

“ Who wrought Sweet William mieckle wae.
For she has taen him Sweet William,
An she's gard bind him wi his bow-string
Till the red bluide o his fair body
Frae ilka nail o his hand did spring.
O it fell once upon a time
That the Lord Justice came to town;
Out has she taen him Sweet William,
Brought him before Lord Justice boun.
'An what is the crime, now, madame,' he says,
'Has been committed by this young man?'
'O he has broken my bonny castel,
That was well biggit with lime and stane. ”