[O that he still had been content Wi' me to lead his life; But ah, his manfu' heart was bent To stir in feates of strife: And he in many a venturous deed 45 His courage bauld wad try, And now this gars mine heart to bleed For my dear Gilderoy. And whan of me his leave he tuik, The tears they wat mine ee; 50 I gave tull him a parting luik, "My benison gang wi' thee! God speid thee weil, mine ain dear heart, For gane is all my joy; My heart is rent sith we maun part, 55 My handsome Gilderoy."] My Gilderoy, baith far and near, Was fear'd in every toun, And bauldly bare away the gear Of many a lawland loun. 60 Nane eir durst meet him man to man, He was sae brave a boy; At length wi' numbers he was tane, My winsome Gilderoy. [The Queen of Scots possessed nought 65 That my love let me want, For cow and ew he 'to me brought,' And een whan they were skant. All these did honestly possess He never did annoy, 70 Who never fail'd to pay their cess To my love Gilderoy.] Wae worth the loun that made the laws, To hang a man for gear; To reave of live for ox or ass, 75 For sheep, or horse, or mare! Had not their laws been made sae strick, I neir had lost my joy, Wi' sorrow neir had wat my cheek For my dear Gilderoy. 80 Giff Gilderoy had done amisse, He mought hae banisht been; Ah! what sair cruelty is this, To hang sike handsome men! To hang the flower o' Scottish land, 85 Sae sweet and fair a boy! Nae lady had sae white a hand As thee, my Gilderoy. Of Gilderoy sae fraid they were, They bound him mickle strong; 90 Tull Edenburrow they led him thair, And on a gallows hung: They hung him high aboon the rest, He was sae trim a boy; Thair dyed the youth whom I lued best, 95 My handsome Gilderoy. Thus having yielded up his breath, I bare his corpse away; Wi' tears that trickled for his death I washt his comelye clay; 100 And siker in a grave sae deep, I laid the dear-loed boy, And now for evir maun I weep My winsome Gilderoy. ROB ROY.