Four and twanty gay gude knichts Rade by fair Annets side, 70 And four and twanty fair ladies, As gin she had bin a bride. And whan she cam to Maries kirk, She sat on Maries stean: The cleading that fair Annet had on 75 It skinkled in their een. And whan she cam into the kirk, She shimmer'd like the sun; The belt that was about her waist, Was a' wi' pearles bedone. 80 She sat her by the nut-browne bride, And her een they wer sae clear, Lord Thomas he clean forgat the bride, Whan fair Annet she drew near. He had a rose into his hand, 85 And he gave it kisses three, And reaching by the nut-browne bride, Laid it on fair Annets knee. Up than spak the nut-browne bride, She spak wi' meikle spite; 90 "And whair gat ye that rose-water, That does mak yee sae white?" "O I did get the rose-water Whair ye wull neir get nane, For I did get that very rose-water 95 Into my mithers wame." The bride she drew a long bodkin Frae out her gay head-gear, And strake fair Annet unto the heart, That word she nevir spak mair. 100 Lord Thomas he saw fair Annet wex pale, And marvelit what mote bee: But whan he saw her dear hearts blude, A' wood-wroth wexed hee. He drew his dagger, that was sae sharp, 105 That was sae sharp and meet, And drave into the nut-browne bride, That fell deid at his feit. "Now stay for me, dear Annet," he sed, "Now stay, my dear," he cry'd; 110 Then strake the dagger untill his heart, And fell deid by her side. Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa', Fair Annet within the quiere; And o' the tane thair grew a birk, 115 The other a bonny briere. And ay they grew, and ay they threw, As they wad faine be neare; And by this ye may ken right weil, They were twa luvers deare. 120 SWEET WILLIE AND FAIR ANNIE Is another version of the foregoing piece, furnished by Jamieson, _Popular Ballads_, i. 22.