O meikle was the good red wine In silver cups gaed round; 50 At length they began to whisper words, None could them understand. "O came ye here for sport, young man, Or came ye here for play? Or came ye for our bonnie bride, 55 On this her wedding day?" "I came not here for sport," he said, "Neither did I for play; But for one word o' your bonnie bride, I'll mount and go away." 60 They set her maids behind her, To hear what they would say; But the first question he ask'd at her Was always answered nay; The next question he ask'd at her 65 Was, "Mount and come away?" It's up the Couden bank, And doun the Couden brae; And aye she made the trumpet sound, It's a weel won play. 70 O meikle was the blood was shed Upon the Couden brae; And aye she made the trumpet sound, It's a' fair play. Come, a' ye English gentlemen, 75 That is of England born, Come na doun to Scotland, For fear ye get the scorn. They'll feed ye up wi' flattering words, And that's foul play; 80 And they'll dress you frogs instead of fish, Just on your wedding day. BONNY BABY LIVINGSTON. Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, ii. 135, from Mrs. Brown's recitation. _Barbara Livingston_, a shorter piece, with a different catastrophe, is given in the Appendix, from Motherwell's collection. O bonny Baby Livingstone Gaed out to view the hay; And by it cam him Glenlyon, Staw bonny Baby away. And first he's taen her silken coat, 5 And neist her satten gown; Syne row'd her in his tartan plaid, And happ'd her round and roun'. He's mounted her upon a steed, And roundly rade away; 10 And ne'er loot her look back again The lee-lang simmer day. He's carried her o'er yon hich hich hill, Intill a Highland glen, And there he met his brother John 15 Wi' twenty armed men. And there were cows, and there were ewes, And there were kids sae fair; But sad and wae was bonny Baby, Her heart was fu' o' care. 20 He's taen her in his arms twa, And kist her cheek and chin; "I wad gi'e a' my flocks and herds, Ae smile frae thee to win." "A smile frae me ye'se never win; 25 I'll ne'er look kind on thee; Ye've stown me awa frae a' my kin, Frae a' that's dear to me.