"O open the door to me, Margaret,-- O open and lat me in! For my boots are full o' Clyde's water, And frozen to the brim." 40 "I darena open the door to you, Nor darena lat you in; For my mither she is fast asleep, And I darena mak nae din." "O gin ye winna open the door, 45 Nor yet be kind to me, Now tell me o' some out-chamber, Where I this nicht may be." "Ye canna win in this nicht, Willie, Nor here ye canna be; 50 For I've nae chambers out nor in, Nae ane but barely three: "The tane o' them is fu' o' corn, The tither is fu' o' hay; The tither is fu' o' merry young men;-- 55 They winna remove till day." "O fare ye weel, then, May Margaret, Sin better manna be; I've win my mither's malison, Coming this nicht to thee." 60 He's mounted on his coal-black steed,-- O but his heart was wae! But, ere he came to Clyde's water, 'Twas half up o'er the brae. * * * * * * * ---- he plunged in, But never raise again. THE DROWNED LOVERS. From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 140. The copy in the Appendix to Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. iii., is nearly the same. Willie stands in his stable door, And clapping at his steed; And looking o'er his white fingers, His nose began to bleed. "Gie corn to my horse, mother; 5 And meat to my young man; And I'll awa' to Meggie's bower, I'll win ere she lie down." "O bide this night wi' me, Willie, O bide this night wi' me; 10 The best an' cock o' a' the reest, At your supper shall be. "A' your cocks, and a' your reests, I value not a prin; For I'll awa' to Meggie's bower, 15 I'll win ere she lie down." "Stay this night wi' me, Willie, O stay this night wi' me; The best an' sheep in a' the flock At your supper shall be." 20 "A' your sheep, and a' your flocks, I value not a prin; For I'll awa' to Meggie's bower, I'll win ere she lie down." "O an' ye gang to Meggie's bower, 25 Sae sair against my will, The deepest pot in Clyde's water, My malison ye's feel." "The guid steed that I ride upon Cost me thrice thretty pound; 30 And I'll put trust in his swift feet, To hae me safe to land." As he rade ower yon high, high hill, And down yon dowie den, The noise that was in Clyde's water 35 Wou'd fear'd five huner men.