She said, "Good e'en, ye nettles tall, 165 Just there where ye grow at the dike; If the auld carline my mother was here, Sae weel's she would your pates pike. "How she would stap you in her poke, I wot at that she wadna fail; 170 And boil ye in her auld brass pan, And of ye mak right gude kail. "And she would meal you with millering That she gathers at the mill, And mak you thick as any daigh; 175 And when the pan was brimful, "Would mess you up in scuttle dishes, Syne bid us sup till we were fou; Lay down her head upon a poke, Then sleep and snore like any sow." 180 "Away! away! you bad woman, For all your vile words grieveth me; When ye heed so little for yourself, I'm sure ye'll heed far less for me. "I wish I had drunk your water, sister, 185 When that I did drink of your wine; Since for a carle's fair daughter, It aye gars me dree all this pine." "May be I am a carle's daughter, And may be never nane; 190 When ye met me in the good green wood, Why did you not let me alane? "Gude e'en, gude e'en, ye heather berries, As ye're growing on yon hill; If the auld carle and his bags were here, 195 I wot he would get meat his fill. "Late, late at night I knit our pokes, With even four-and-twenty knots; And in the morn at breakfast time, I'll carry the keys of an earl's locks. 200 "Late, late at night I knit our pokes, With even four-and-twenty strings; And if you look to my white fingers, They have as many gay gold rings." "Away! away! ye ill woman, 205 And sore your vile words grieveth me; When you heed so little for yourself, I'm sure ye'll heed far less for me. "But if you are a carle's daughter, As I take you to be, 210 How did you get the gay clothing, In green wood ye had on thee?" "My mother she's a poor woman, She nursed earl's children three; And I got them from a foster sister, 215 For to beguile such sparks as thee." "But if you be a carle's daughter, As I believe you be, How did ye learn the good Latin, In green wood ye spoke to me?" 220 "My mother she's a mean woman, She nursed earl's children three; I learned it from their chapelain, To beguile such sparks as ye." When mass was sung, and bells were rung, 225 And all men boune for bed, Then Earl Richard and this ladye In ane bed they were laid.