As fast as they could go. (_buntin'_, blackbird. _lane_, self.) They wistna weel where they were ga en, Wi' the strattlins o' their feet; They wistna weel where they were ga'en, Till at her father's gate. "I hae nae money in my pocket, But royal rings hae three; I'll gie them you, my little young son, And ye'll walk there for me. "Ye'll gie the first to the proud porter, And he will lat you in; Ye'll gie the next to the butler boy, And he will show you ben; "Ye'll gie the third to the minstrel That plays before the king; He'll play success to the bonny boy, Came thro' the wood him lane." He gae the first to the proud porter, And he open'd and let him in; He gae the next to the butler boy, And he has shown him ben; He gae the third to the minstrel That play'd before the king; And he play'd success to the bonny boy, Came thro' the wood him lane. (_strattlins,_ straddlings (?). _ben_, in.) Now when he came before the king, Fell low down on his knee: The king he turned round about, And the saut tear blinded his ee. "Win up, win up, my bonny boy, Gang frae my company; Ye look sae like my dear daughter, My heart will burst in three." "If I look like your dear daughter, A wonder it is none; If I look like your dear daughter, I am her eldest son. "Will ye tell me, ye wee little boy, Where may my Margaret be?" "She's just now standing at your gates, And my six brothers her wi'." "O where are all my porter-boys That I pay meat and fee, To open my gates baith wide and braid? Let her come in to me." When she came in before the king, Fell low down on her knee: "Win up, win up, my daughter dear, This day ye'll dine wi' me." "Ae bit I canna eat, father, Nor ae drop can I drink, Till I see my mither and sister dear, For lang for them I think." When she came before the queen, Fell low down on her knee: "Win up, win up, my daughter dear, This day ye'se dine wi' me." "Ae bit I canna eat, mither, Nor ae drop can I drink, Until I see my dear sister, For lang for her I think." When that these two sisters met, She hail'd her courteously: "Come ben, come ben, my sister dear, This day ye'se dine wi' me." "Ae bit I canna eat, sister, Nor ae drop can I drink, Until I see my dear husband, For lang for him I think." "O where are all my rangers bold That I pay meat and fee, To search the forest far an' wide, And bring Akin to me?" Out it speaks the wee little boy,-- "Na, na, this mauna be; Without ye grant a free pardon, I hope ye'll na him see." "O here I grant a free pardon, Well seal'd by my own han'; Ye may make search for young Akin, As soon as ever you can." They search'd the country wide and braid, The forests far and near,