"Ye are my jewel, and only ane, Nane's do you injury; For ere this-day-month come and gang, My wedded wife ye'se be." THE EARL OF MAR'S DAUGHTER |It was intill a pleasant time, Upon a simmer's day; The noble Earl of Mar's daughter Went forth to sport and play. As thus she did amuse hersel', Below a green aik tree, There she saw a sprightly doo Set on a tower sae high. "O Cow-me-doo, my love sae true, If ye'll come down to me, Ye'se hae a cage o' guid red gowd Instead o' simple tree: "I'll put gowd hingers roun' your cage, And siller roun' your wa'; I'll gar ye shine as fair a bird As ony o' them a'." (_tree_, wood. _hingers_, hangings.) But she had na these words well spoke, Nor yet these words well said, Till Cow-me-doo flew frae the tower, And lighted on her head. Then she has brought this pretty bird Hame to her bowers and ha'; And made him shine as fair a bird As ony o' them a. When day was gane, and night was come, About the evening tide, This lady spied a sprightly youth Stand straight up by her side. "From whence came ye, young man?" she said, "That does surprise me sair; My door was bolted right secure; What way hae ye come here?" "O hold your tongue, ye lady fair, Let a' your folly be; Mind ye not on your turtle doo Last day ye brought wi' thee?" "O tell me mair, young man," she said, "This does surprise me now; What country hae ye come frae? What pedigree are you?" "My mither lives on foreign isles, She has nae mair but me; She is a queen o' wealth and state, And birth and high degree; "Likewise well skill'd in magic spells, As ye may plainly see; And she transform'd me to yon shape, To charm such maids as thee. "l ma doo the live lang day, A sprightly youth at night; This aye gars me appear mair fair In a fair maiden's sight. "And it was but this verra day That I came ower the sea; Your lovely face did me enchant,-- I'll live and die wi' thee." "O Cow-me-doo, my love sae true, Nae mair frae me ye'se gae." "That's never my intent, my love, As ye said, it shall be sae." "O Cow-me-doo, my love sae true, It's time to gae to bed." "Wi' a' my heart, my dear marrow, It's be as ye hae said." Then he has staid in bower wi' her For sax lang years and ane, Till sax young sons to him she bare, And the seventh she's brought hame. But aye as ever a child was born, He carried them away, And brought them to his mither's care, As fast as he could fly. Thus he has staid in bower wi' her For twenty years and three; There came a lord o' high renown To court this fair lady. But still his proffer she refused, And a' his presents too; Says, "Im content to live alane Wi' my bird, Cow-me-doo."