SWEET WILLIE AND FAIR MAISRY. See p. 79. From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 97. "Hey love Willie, and how love Willie, And Willie my love shall be; They're thinking to sinder our lang love, Willie; It's mair than man can dee. "Ye'll mount me quickly on a steed, 5 A milk-white steed or gray; And carry me on to gude greenwood Before that it be day." He mounted her upon a steed, He chose a steed o' gray; 10 He had her on to gude greenwood Before that it was day. "O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie? Or will ye gang wi' me? Or will ye ha'e a bower woman, 15 To stay ere it be day?" "I winna gang to the cards," she said, "Nor will I gae wi' thee, Nor will I hae a bower woman, To spoil my modestie. 20 "Ye'll gie me a lady at my back, An' a lady me beforn; An' a midwife at my twa sides Till your young son be born. "Ye'll do me up, and further up, 25 To the top o' yon greenwood tree; For every pain myself shall ha'e, The same pain ye maun drie." The first pain that did strike sweet Willie, It was into the side; 30 Then sighing sair said sweet Willie, "These pains are ill to bide." The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie, It was into the back; Then sighing sair said sweet Willie, 35 "These pains are women's wreck." The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie, It was into the head; Then sighing sair said sweet Willie, "I fear my lady's dead." 40 Then he's gane on, and further on, At the foot o' yon greenwood tree; There he got his lady lighter, Wi' his young son on her knee. Then he's ta'en up his little young son, 45 And kiss'd him cheek and chin; And he is on to his mother, As fast as he could gang. "Ye will take in my son, mother, Gi'e him to nurses nine; 50 Three to wauk, and three to sleep, And three to gang between." Then he has left his mother's house, And frae her he has gane; And he is back to his lady, 55 And safely brought her hame. Then in it came her father dear, Was belted in a brand; "It's nae time for brides to lye in bed, When the bridegroom's send's in town. 60 "There are four-and-twenty noble lords A' lighted on the green; The fairest knight amang them a', He must be your bridegroom."