65 'And was I weel or was I wae, He keepit me a' the simmer day. 66 'Though for my hame-gaun I oft sicht, He keepit me a' the simmer night. 67 'He gae to me a gay gold ring, An bade me keep it aboon a' thing; 68 'Three lauchters o his yellow hair, For fear that we suld neer meet mair. 69 'O mither, if ye'll believe nae me, Break up the coffer, an there ye'll see.' 70 An ay she coost, an ay she flang, Till her ain gowd ring came in her hand. 71 And scarce aught i the coffer she left, Till she gat the knife wi the siller heft, 72 Three lauchters o his yellow hair, Knotted wi ribbons dink and rare. 73 She cried to her son, 'Where is the ring Your father gave me at our wooing, An I gae you at your hunting? 74 'What did ye wi the cuttie knife, I bade ye keep it as yere life?' 75 'O haud yere tongue, my mither dear; I gae them to a lady fair. 76 'I wad gie a' my lands and rents, I had that ladie within my brents. 77 'I wad gie a' my lands an towers, I had that ladie within my bowers.' 78 'Keep still yere lands, keep still yere rents; Ye hae that ladie within yere brents. 79 'Keep still yere lands, keep still yere towers; Ye hae that lady within your bowers.' 80 Then to his ladie fast ran he, An low he kneeled on his knee. 81 'O tauk ye up my son,' said he, 'An, mither, tent my fair ladie. 82 'O wash him purely i the milk, And lay him saftly in the silk. 83 'An ye maun bed her very soft, For I maun kiss her wondrous oft.' 84 It was weel written on his breast-bane Childe Branton was the father's name. 85 It was weel written on his right hand He was the heir o his daddie's land. D Buchan's Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland, I, 204. 1 We were sisters, sisters seven, Bowing down, bowing down The fairest women under heaven. And aye the birks a-bowing 2 They kiest kevels them amang, Wha woud to the grenewood gang. 3 The kevels they gied thro the ha, And on the youngest it did fa. 4 Now she must to the grenewood gang, To pu the nuts in grenewood hang. 5 She hadna tarried an hour but ane Till she met wi a highlan groom. 6 He keeped her sae late and lang Till the evening set and birds they sang. 7 He gae to her at their parting A chain o gold and gay gold ring; 8 And three locks o his yellow hair; Bade her keep them for evermair. 9 When six lang months were come and gane, A courtier to this lady came. 10 Lord Dingwall courted this lady gay, And so he set their wedding-day. 11 A little boy to the ha was sent, To bring her horse was his intent.