She lighted aff her milk-white steed, 25 And kneel'd upon her knee; "O mercy, mercy, Jellon Grame, For I'm no prepared to die! "Your bairn, that stirs between my sides, Maun shortly see the light: 30 But to see it weltering in my blood, Would be a piteous sight."-- "O should I spare your life," he says, "Until that bairn were born, Full weel I ken your auld father 35 Would hang me on the morn."-- "O spare my life, now, Jellon Grame! My father ye needna dread: I'll keep my babe in gude green-wood, Or wi' it I'll beg my bread."-- 40 He took no pity on Lillie Flower, Though she for life did pray; But pierced her through the fair body As at his feet she lay. He felt nae pity for Lillie Flower, 45 Where she was lying dead; But he felt some for the bonny bairn, That lay weltering in her bluid. Up has he ta'en that bonny boy, Given him to nurses nine; 50 Three to sleep, and three to wake, And three to go between. And he bred up that bonny boy, Call'd him his sister's son; And he thought no eye could ever see 55 The deed that he had done. O so it fell upon a day, When hunting they might be, They rested them in Silverwood, Beneath that green aik tree. 60 And many were the green-wood flowers Upon the grave that grew, And marvell'd much that bonny boy To see their lovely hue. "What's paler than the prymrose wan? 65 What's redder than the rose? What's fairer than the lilye flower On this wee know that grows?"-- O out and answer'd Jellon Grame, And he spak hastilie-- 70 "Your mother was a fairer flower, And lies beneath this tree. "More pale she was, when she sought my grace, Than prymrose pale and wan; And redder than rose her ruddy heart's blood, 75 That down my broadsword ran."-- Wi' that the boy has bent his bow, It was baith stout and lang; An thro' and thro' him, Jellon Grame, He gar'd an arrow gang. 80 Says,--"Lie ye there, now, Jellon Grame! My malisoun gang you wi'! The place that my mother lies buried in Is far too good for thee." 1. Silverwood, mentioned in this ballad, occurs in a medley MS. song, which seems to have been copied from the first edition of the Aberdeen Cantus, _penes_ John G. Dalyell, Esq. advocate. One line only is cited, apparently the beginning of some song:-- "Silverwood, gin ye were mine." SCOTT. YOUNG JOHNSTONE.