"Where are ye going, my bonny boy, Where are ye going, my caddie?" "I am going to the Castle o' Aboyne 55 Wi' a letter to the rantin' laddie." "See yonder is the castle there, My young and handsome caddie, And I myself am the Earl o' Aboyne, Tho they ca' me the rantin' laddie." 60 "O pardon, my lord, if I've done wrong; Forgive a simple caddie; O pardon, pardon, Earl o' Aboyne, I said but what she bade me." "Ye've done no wrong, my bonny boy, 65 Ye've done no wrong, my caddie;" Wi' hat in hand he bowed low, Gave the letter to the rantin' laddie. When young Aboyne looked the letter on, O but he blinkit bonny; 70 But ere he read four lines on end, The tears came trickling mony. "My father will no pity shew, My mother still does slight me, And a' my friends have turned from me, 75 And servants disrespect me." "Who are they dare be so bold To cruelly use my lassie? But I'll take her to bonny Aboyne, Where oft she did caress me. 80 "Go raise to me five hundred men, Be quick and make them ready; Each on a steed, to haste their speed, To carry home my lady." As they rode on thro' Buchanshire, 85 The company were many, Wi' a good claymore in every hand, That glanced wondrous bonny. When he came to her father's gate He called for his lady; 90 "Come down, come down, my bonny maid, And speak wi' your rantin' laddie." When she was set on high horseback, Row'd in the highland plaidie, The bird i' the bush sung not so sweet, 95 As sung this bonny lady. As they rode on thro' Buchanshire, He cried, "Each lowland lassie, Lay your love on some lowland lown, And soon will he prove fause t' ye. 100 "But take my advice, and make your choice Of some young highland laddie, Wi' bonnet and plaid, whose heart is staid, And he will not beguile ye." As they rode on thro' Garioch land, 105 He rode up in a fury, And cried, "Fall back each saucy dame, Let the Countess of Aboyne before ye." THE DUKE OF GORDON'S DAUGHTER. Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 169.