And what will ye leave to your bairns and your wife, Edward, Edward? And what will ye leave to your bairns and your wife, When ye gang over the sea oh? "The world's room, let them beg through life, Mither, mither: The world's room, let them beg through life, For them never mair will I see oh." And what will ye leave to your ain mither dear, Edward, Edward? And what will ye leave to your ain mither dear, My dear son, now tell me oh. "The curse of hell frae me shall ye bear, Mither, mither: The curse of hell frae me shall ye bear, Sic counsels ye gave to me oh." YOUNG WATERS |About Yule? when the wind blew cool; And the round tables began, A' there is come to our king's court Mony a well-favoured man. The queen looked o'er the castle wa, Beheld baith dale and down, And then she saw young Waters Come riding to the town. His footmen they did rin before, His horsemen rade behind; Ane mantle of the burning gowd Did keep him frae the wind. Gowden graith'd his horse before, And siller shod behind -, The horse young Waters rade upon Was fleeter than the wind. Out then spake a wily lord, Unto the queen said he: "O tell me wh' s the fairest face Rides in the company?" (_graith'd_, girthed.) "I've seen lord, and I've seen laird, And knights of high degree, But a fairer face than young Waters Mine eyen did never see." Out then spake the jealous king And an angry man was he: "O if he had been twice as fair, You might have excepted me." "You're neither laird nor lord," she says, "But the king that wears the crown; There is not a knight in fair Scotland, But to thee maun bow down." For a' that she could do or say, Appeased he wad nae be; But for the words which she had said, Young Waters he maun dee. They hae ta'en young Waters, And put fetters to his feet; They hae ta'en young Waters, And thrown him in dungeon deep. "Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town, In the wind but and the weet; But I ne'er rade thro' Stirling town Wi' fetters at my feet. "Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town, In the wind but and the rain; But I ne'er rade thro' Stirling town Ne'er to return again." They hae ta'en to the heading-hill His young son in his cradle; And they hae ta'en to the heading-hill His horse but and his saddle. They hae taen to the heading-hill His lady fair to see; And for the words the queen had spoke Young Waters he did dee. [Illustration: 0130] CHILDREN IN THE WOOD |Now ponder well, you parents dear, These words which I shall write; A doleful story you shall hear, In time brought forth to light. (_heading_, beheading.) A gentleman of good account In Norfolk dwelt of late, Who did in honour far surmount