"A boon, a boon, my father dear, A boon I beg of thee!" "Ask not that haughty Scottish lord, For him ye ne’er shall see. But for your honest asking else, Weel granted it shall be." "Then, gin I die in Southern land, In Scotland gar[#] bury me. [#] cause And the first kirk that ye come to, Ye’s gar the mass be sung; And the next kirk that ye come to Ye’s gar the bells be rung. And when ye come to St Mary’s Kirk, Ye’s tarry there till night." And so her father pledged his word, And so his promise plight. She has ta’en her to her bigly bower As fast as she could fare; And she has drank a sleepy draught, That she had mixed wi’ care. And pale, pale grew her rosy cheek, That was sae bright of blee,[#] And she seemed to be as surely dead As any one could be. [#] bloom. Then spake her cruel step-minnie,[#] "Tak ye the burning lead, And drap a drap on her bosome, To try if she be dead." [#] mother. They took a drap o’ boiling lead, They drapped it on her breast; "Alas! alas!" her father cried, "She’s dead without the priest." She neither chattered with her teeth, Nor shivered with her chin; "Alas! alas!" her father cried, "There is nae breath within." Then up arose her seven brethren, And hewed to her a bier; They hewed it frae the solid aik,[#] Laid it o’er wi’ silver clear. [#] oak. Then up and gat her seven sisters, And sewed to her a kell,[#] And every steek[#] that they put in Sewed to a siller bell. [#] shroud. [#] stitch. The first Scots kirk that they cam to, They garred the bells be rung; The next Scots kirk that they cam to, They garred fhe mass be sung. But when they cam to St Mary’s Kirk, There stude spearmen all on a row; And up and started Lord William, The chieftaine amang them a’. "Set down, set down the bier," he said, "Let me look her upon;" But as soon as Lord William touched her hand, Her colour began to come. She brightened like the lily flower, Till her pale colour was gone; With rosy cheek, and ruby lip, She smiled her love upon. "A morsel of your bread, my lord, And one glass of your wine; For I have fasted these three lang days, All for your sake and mine. Gae hame, gae hame, my seven bauld brothers, Gae hame and blaw your horn! I trow[#] ye wad hae gi’en me the skaith,[#] But I’ve gi’en you the scorn. [#] reckon. [#] harm. Commend me to my grey father, That wished my soul gude rest; But wae be to my cruel step-dame, Garred burn me on the breast." "Ah! woe to you, you light woman! And ill death may ye die! For we left father and sisters at hame, Breaking their hearts for thee." *Chapter X*