Sae out at the gates they a’ are gane, The prisner’s set on horseback hie; And now wi speed they’ve tane the gate; While ilk ane jokes fu wantonlie. “O Jock, sae winsomely’s ye ride, Wi baith your feet upo ae side! Sae weel’s ye’re harnessd, and sae trig! In troth ye sit like ony bride.” The night, tho wat, they didna mind, But hied them on fu mirrilie, Until they cam to Cholerford brae, Where the water ran like mountains hie. But when they came to Cholerford, There they met with an auld man; Says, “Honest man, will the water ride? Tell us in haste, if that ye can.” “I wat weel no,” quo the good auld man; “Here I hae livd this threty yeirs and three, And I neer yet saw the Tyne sae big, Nor rinning ance sae like a sea.” Then up and spake the Laird’s saft Wat, The greatest coward in the company; “Now halt, now halt, we needna try’t; The day is comd we a’ maun die!” “Poor faint-hearted thief!” quo the Laird’s Jock, “There’ll nae man die but he that’s fie; I’ll lead ye a’ right safely through; Lift ye the prisner on ahint me.” Sae now the water they a’ hae tane, By anes and ’twas they a’ swam through “Here are we a’ safe,” says the Laird’s Jock, “And, poor faint Wat, what think ye now?” They scarce the ither side had won, When twenty men they saw pursue; Frae Newcastle town they had been sent, A’ English lads right good and true. But when the land-sergeant the water saw, “It winna ride, my lads,” quo he; Then out he cries, “Ye the prisner may take, But leave the irons, I pray, to me.” “I wat weel no,” cryd the Laird’s Jock, “I’ll keep them a’; shoon to my mare they’ll be; My good grey mare; for I am sure, She’s bought them a’ fu dear frae thee.” Sae now they’re away for Liddisdale, Een as fast as they coud them hie; The prisner’s brought to his ain fireside, And there o’s airns they make him free. “Now, Jock, my billie,” quo a’ the three, “The day was comd thou was to die; But thou’s as weel at thy ain fireside, Now sitting, I think, ’tween thee and me.” They hae gard fill up ae punch-bowl, And after it they maun hae anither, And thus the night they a’ hae spent, Just as they had been brither and brither. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET (_Child_, Part III., p. 182.) LORD THOMAS and Fair Annet Sate a’ day on a hill; Whan night was cum, and sun was sett, They had not talkt their fill. Lord Thomas said a word in jest, Fair Annet took it ill: “A, I will nevir wed a wife Against my ain friend’s will.” “Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife, A wife wull neir wed yee;” Sae he is hame to tell his mither, And knelt upon his knee.