And I fear, I fear, my dear master, That we will come to harm." O our Scots nobles were right loath To wet their cork-heeled shoon; But lang erè a the play were playd, Their hats they swam aboon. O lang, lang, may their ladies sit Wi' their fans into their hand, Or e'er they see Sir Patrick Spence Come sailing to the land. O lang, lang, may the ladies stand Wi' their gold kems in their hair, Waiting for their ain dear lords, For they'll see them na mair. (_shoon_, shoes.) Half oer, half oer to Aberdour, It's fifty fathom deep: And there lies guid Sir Patrick Spence, Wi' the Scots lords at his feet. CHILD WATERS |Child Waters in his stable stood And stroked his milk-white steed; To him came a fair yong lady As ever did wear womans weed. Says, "Christ you save, good Child Waters," Says, "Christ you save and see; My girdle of gold which was too long, Is now too short for me. "And all is with one child of yours I feel stir at my side; (_weed_, dress.) My gown of green it is too straight; Before, it was too wide." "If the child be mine, fair Ellen," he said, "Be mine, as you tell me, Take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, Take them your own to be. "If the child be mine, fair Ellen," he said, "Be mine, as you do swear, Take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, And make that child your heir." She says, "I had rather have one kiss, Child Waters, of thy mouth, Than I would have Cheshire and Lancashire both, That lies by north and south. "And I had rather have a twinkling, Child Waters, of your ee, Than I would have Cheshire and Lancashire both, To take them mine own to be." "To morrow, Ellen, I must forth ride Far into the north countree; The fairest lady that I can find, Ellen, must go with me." "And ever I pray you, Child Waters, Your foot-page let me be." "If you will my foot-page be, Ellen, As you do tell it me, Then you must cut your gown of green An inch above your knee: "So must you do your yellow locks, Another inch above your ee; You must tell no man what is my name; My foot-page then you shall be." All this long day Child Waters rode, She ran barefoot by his side, Yet he was never so courteous a knight, To say, "Ellen, will you ride?" But all this day Child Waters rode, She ran barefoot through the broom, Yet he was never so courteous a knight, As to say, "put on your shoon." "Ride softly," she said, "Child Waters Why do you ride so fast? The child, which is no man's but yours, My body it will burst." He says, "sees thou yonder water, Ellen, That flows from bank to brim?" "I trust to God, Child Waters," she said, "You will never see me swim." But when she came to the water's side, She sailed to the chin: