O lang, lang, may the ladies stand Wi' thair gold kems in their hair, Waiting for thair ain deir lords, For they'll se thame na mair. Have owre, have owre to Aberdour, It's fiftie fadom deip: And thair lies guid Sir Patrick Spens, Wi' the Scots lords at his feit. [Illustration: Sir Patrick Spens tailpiece] THE EARL OF MAR'S DAUGHTER [Illustration: The Earl of Mar's Daughter headpiece] [Illustration: The Earl of Mar's Daughter] It was intill a pleasant time, Upon a simmer's day, The noble Earl of Mar's daughter Went forth to sport and play. As thus she did amuse hersell, Below a green aik tree, There she saw a sprightly doo Set on a tower sae hie. "O cow-me-doo, my love sae true, If ye'll come down to me, Ye 'se hae a cage o guid red gowd Instead o simple tree: "I'll put growd hingers roun your cage, And siller roun your wa; I'll gar ye shine as fair a bird As ony o them a'." But she hadnae these words well spoke, Nor yet these words well said, Till Cow-me-doo flew frae the tower And lighted on her head. Then she has brought this pretty bird Hame to her bowers and ba, And made him shine as fair a bird As ony o them a'. When day was gane, and night was come, About the evening tide, This lady spied a sprightly youth Stand straight up by her side. "From whence came ye, young man?" she said; "That does surprise me sair; My door was bolted right secure, What way hae ye come here?" "O had your tongue, ye lady fair, Lat a' your folly be; Mind ye not on your turtle-doo Last day ye brought wi thee?" "O tell me mair, young man," she said, "This does surprise me now; What country hae ye come frae? What pedigree are you?" "My mither lives on foreign isles, She has nae mair but me; She is a queen o wealth and state, And birth and high degree. "Likewise well skilld in magic spells, As ye may plainly see, And she transformd me to yon shape, To charm such maids as thee. "I am a doo the live-lang day, A sprightly youth at night; This aye gars me appear mair fair In a fair maiden's sight. "And it was but this verra day That I came ower the sea; Your lovely face did me enchant; I'll live and dee wi thee." "O Cow-me-doo, my luve sae true, Nae mair frae me ye 'se gae; That's never my intent, my luve, As ye said, it shall be sae." "O Cow-me-doo, my luve sae true, It's time to gae to bed;" "Wi a' my heart, my dear marrow, It's be as ye hae said." Then he has staid in bower wi her For sax lang years and ane, Till sax young sons to him she bare, And the seventh she's brought hame. But aye as ever a child was born He carried them away, And brought them to his mither's care, As fast as he coud fly.