As I was a-walking mine alane, It was by the dawning of the day, I heard twa brithers make their mane, And I listen'd weel to what they did say. The youngest to the eldest said, 5 "Blythe and merrie how can we be? There were three brithren of us born, And ane of us is condemn'd to die." "And ye wad be merrie, and ye wad be sad, What the better wad billy Archie be? 10 Unless I had thirty men to mysell, And a' to ride in my cumpanie. "Ten to hald the horses' heads, And other ten the watch to be, And ten to break up the strong prison, 15 Where billy Archie he does lie." Then up and spak him mettled John Hall,[L17] (The luve of Teviotdale aye was he,) "An I had eleven men to mysell, It's aye the twalt man I wad be." 20 Then up bespak him coarse Ca'field, (I wot and little gude worth was he,) "Thirty men is few anew, And a' to ride in our companie." There was horsing, horsing in haste, 25 And there was marching on the lee, Until they cam to Murraywhate, And they lighted there right speedilie. "A smith! a smith!" Dickie he cries, "A smith, a smith, right speedilie, 30 To turn back the caukers of our horses' shoon; For it's unkensome we wad be." "There lives a smith on the water-side, Will shoe my little black mare for me; And I've a crown in my pocket, 35 And every groat of it I wad gie." "The night is mirk, and it's very mirk, And by candle-light I canna weel see; The night is mirk, and it's very pit mirk, And there will never a nail ca' right for me." 40 "Shame fa' you and your trade baith, Canna beet a good fellow by your mystery; But leeze me on thee, my little black mare, Thou's worth thy weight in gold to me." There was horsing, horsing in haste, 45 And there was marching upon the lee, Until they cam to Dumfries port, And they lighted there right speedilie. "There's five of us will hold the horse, And other five will watchmen be:" 50 "But wha's the man among ye a', Will gae to the Tolbooth door wi' me?" O up then spak him mettled John Hall, (Frae the Laigh Teviotdale was he,) "If it should cost my life this very night, 55 I'll gae to the Tolbooth door wi' thee." "Be of gude cheir, now, Archie, lad, Be of gude cheir, now, dear billie! Work thou within, and we without, And the morn thou'se dine at Ca'field wi' me." 60