20 He's given her roses to her feet, And ribbons to her gown, And she has welcomed his braw bride, But weel that was her own! 21 'I thank you, sister Annie,' she says, 'I thank you heartilie, And if I be seven years about this place, Rewarded you shall be.' 22 She served them up, she served them down, And she served all their cries, And aye as she came down the stair The tears fell from her eyes. 23 When mass was sung, and all bells rung, And all men boune for bed, The good lord and his fair lady Were in their chamber laid. 24 But poor Annie and her seven sons Was in a room hard by, And as she lay she sighed and wept, And thus began to cry: 25 'O were my sons transformed to cats, To speel this castle wa, And I mysell a red blood-hound That I might worry them a'!' 26 The bride she overhearing all, And sair she rued her fate: 'Awauk, awauk, my lord,' she said, 'Awauk, for well you may; For there's a woman in this gate That will go mad ere day. 27 'I fear she is a leman of thine, And a leman meek and mild; Get up and pack her down the stairs, Tho the woods were neer sae wild.' 28 'O yes, she is a leman of mine, And a leman meek and kind, And I will not pack her down the stairs, For a' the gear that's thine.' 29 'O wha's your father, Ann?' she says, 'Or wha's your mother dear? Or wha's your sister, Ann?' she says, 'Or brother? let me hear.' 30 'King Easter he's my father dear, The Queen my mother was; John Armstrang, in the west-airt lands, My eldest brother is.' 31 'Then I'm your sister, Ann,' she says, 'And I'm a full sister to thee; You were stolen awa when very young, By the same lord's treacherie. 32 'I've seven ships upon the sea, All loaded to the brim, And five of them I'll give to thee, And twa shall carry me hame. 33 'My mother shall mak my tocher up, When I tell her how you thrive; For we never knew where you was gone, Or if you was alive.' D Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 307. 1 'Wha will bake my bridal bread, And brew my bridal ale? And wha will welcome my brisk bride, That I bring oer the dale?' 2 'I will bake your bridal bread, And brew your bridal ale, And I will welcome your brisk bride, That you bring oer the dale.' 3 'But she that welcomes my brisk bride Maun gang like maiden fair; She maun lace on her robe sae jimp, And braid her yellow hair.' 4 'But how can I gang maiden-like, When maiden I am nane? Have I not born seven sons to thee, And am with child agen?'