Francis James Child

“ Whan a' our langsome wark was dane,
"We keist the cavils us amang,
To see which shoud to the greenwood gang.
"Ohone, alas! for I was youngest,
An ay my wierd it was the hardest.
"The cavil it did on me fa,
Which was the cause of a' my wae.
"For to the greenwood I must gae,
To pu the nut but an the slae;
"To pu the red rose an the thyme,
To strew my mother's bowr and mine.
"I had na pu'd a flowr but ane,
Till by there came a jelly hind greeme,
"Wi high-colld hose an laigh-colld shoone,
An he 'peard to be some kingis son. ”

“ Here are a' things meet for thee;
"Here's a bolster for yere head,
Here is sheets an comelie weids."
* * * * *
"Now tell to me, ye Billie Blin,
If this fair dame be a leal maiden."
"I wat she is as leal a wight
As the moon shines on in a simmer night.
"I wat she is as leal a may
As the sun shines on in a simmer day. ”

“ His mither will meet you wi a golden chair.
"But be ye maid or be ye nane,
Unto the high seat make ye boun.
"Lord Dingwall aft has been beguild
By girls whom young men hae defiled.
"He's cutted the paps frae their breast-bane,
And sent them back to their ain hame." ”

“ We laid it out upon the green.
"We coost the lotties us amang,
Wha wad to the greenwode gang;
"To pu the lily but an the rose,
To strew witha' our sisters' bowers.
. . . . . "I was youngest,
. . . . . my weer was hardest.
"And to the greenwode I bu [d] gae.
. . . .
"There I met a handsome childe,
. . . .
"Wi laigh-coled stockings and high-coled shoon,
He seemed to be some king's son. ”

“ You hae that lady your yates within.
"An keep you still your ha's an towrs;
You hae that bright burd i your bowrs."
Now or a month was come an gone,
This lady bare a bonny young son.
An it was well written on his breast-bane
"Gil brenton is my father's name." ”

“ Comfort your ladie, she's full o woe."
Now when nine months were come and gane,
The lady she brought hame a son.
It was written on his breast-bane
Lord Dingwall was his father's name.
He's taen his young son in his arms,
And aye he praisd his lovely charms.
And he has gien him kisses three,
And doubled them ower to his ladie.
E
LORD BENWALL he's a hunting gone ”