He hadna been in that unco land, But only twallmonths twa or three; 10 Till by the glancing o' his ee, He gain'd the love o' a gay ladye. This ladye was scarce eleven years auld, When on her love she was right bauld; She was scarce up to my right knee, 15 When oft in bed wi' men I'm tauld. But when nine months were come and gane, This ladye's face turn'd pale and wane; To Leesome Brand she then did say, "In this place I can nae mair stay. 20 "Ye do you to my father's stable, Where steeds do stand baith wight and able; Strike ane o' them upo' the back, The swiftest will gie his head a wap. "Ye take him out upo' the green, 25 And get him saddled and bridled seen; Get ane for you, anither for me, And lat us ride out ower the lee. "Ye do you to my mother's coffer, And out of it ye'll take my tocher; 30 Therein are sixty thousand pounds, Which all to me by right belongs." He's done him to her father's stable, Where steeds stood baith wicht and able; Then he strake ane upon the back, 35 The swiftest gae his head a wap. He's ta'en him out upo' the green, And got him saddled and bridled seen; Ane for him, and another for her, To carry them baith wi' might and virr. 40 He's done him to her mother's coffer, And there he's taen his lover's tocher; Wherein were sixty thousand pounds, Which all to her by right belong'd. When they had ridden about six mile, 45 His true love then began to fail; "O wae's me," said that gay ladye, "I fear my back will gang in three! "O gin I had but a gude midwife,[L49] Here this day to save my life, 50 And ease me o' my misery, O dear, how happy I wou'd be!" "My love, we're far frae ony town; There is nae midwife to be foun'; But if ye'll be content wi' me, 55 I'll do for you what man can dee." "For no, for no, this maunna be," Wi' a sigh, replied this gay ladye; "When I endure my grief and pain, My companie ye maun refrain. 60 "Ye'll take your arrow and your bow, And ye will hunt the deer and roe; Be sure ye touch not the white hynde, For she is o' the woman kind." He took sic pleasure in deer and roe, 65 Till he forgot his gay ladye; Till by it came that milk-white hynde, And then he mind on his ladye syne. He hasted him to yon greenwood tree, For to relieve his gay ladye; 70 But found his ladye lying dead, Likeways her young son at her head.