The Earl he flang his purse to them, For wow! but they sung bonny O; Gied them red wine and manchet cake, 15 And all for the Gipsy laddie O. The Earl wad gae hunt in Maybole woods, For blythsome was the morning O, To hunt the deer wi' the yelping curs, Wi' the huntsman bugle sounding O. 20 The Countess went doun to the ha', To hae a crack at them fairly O; "And och," she cried, "I wad follow thee, To the end o' the world or nearly O." He kist the Countess lips sae red, 25 And her jimp white waist he cuddled O; She smoothed his beard wi' her luvely hand, And a' for her Gipsy laddie O. "And och," she cried, "that I should love thee, And ever wrong my Earlie O; 30 I ken there's glamour in mine e'ee, To follow a Gipsy laddie O." Quo he, "Thou art ane Earl's ladye, And that is kent fu' fairly O; But if thou comest awa wi' me, 35 Thou'lt be a queen so rarely O. "I'm Johnny Faa o' Yetholm town,[L37] There dwall my min and daddie O; And sweet Countess, I'm nothing less Than King o' the Gipsy laddies O." 40 She pull'd off her high heel'd shoes,-- They were made of Spanish leather O,-- She put on her Highland brogues, To follow the Gipsy laddie O. At night, when my lord came riding home, 45 Enquiring for his lady O, The waiting maid made this reply-- "She's following the Gipsy laddie O." "O now then," quo' the bonny Earl, "That ever siccan a thing suld be; 50 All ye that love, oh never build Your nest upon the topmost tree. "For oh the green leaves they will fall, And roots and branches wither O; But the virtue o' a leal woman, 55 I trow wad never swither O. "Go saddle me my mylk white steed, Go saddle it so sadly O, And I will ride out oure the lea, To follow her Gipsy laddie O. 60 "Go saddle me my bonny black, And eke my gray cowt quickly O; Gin I hae not Johnny Faa his head, The de'il may claw me tightly O. "Have you been east, or have you been west, 65 Or have you been brisk and bonny O, Or have you seen a gay lady Following a Gipsy laddie O?" He rode all the summer's night, And part of the next morning O; 70 At length he espied his own wedded wife, She was cold, wet, and weary O. The leddy sabbed, the leddy cried, And wrung her hands sae sadly O; And aye her moan was to the Earl, 75 To spare her Gipsy laddie O.