19 Then he lap on his milk-white steed, And he rade after his men, And a’ that they did say to him, ‘Dear master, ye’ve tarried lang.’ 20 ‘I’ve ridden east, I’ve ridden west, And over the Cowdenknowes, But the bonniest lass that eer I did see, Was i the ewe-bught, milking her ewes.’ 21 She’s taen her milk-pail on her head, And she gaed singing hame; But a’ that her auld father did say, ‘Daughter, ye’ve tarried lang.’ ‘O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom, The broom o the Cowdenknowes! Aye sae sair’s I may rue the day, In the ewe-bughts, milking my ewes. 22 ‘O this is a mirk and a misty night, O father, as ye may see; The ewes they ran skipping over the knowes, And they woudna bught in for me. 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘Before that he’d taen the lamb that he took, I rather he’d taen other three.’ 24 When twenty weeks were come and gane, And twenty weeks and three, The lassie’s colour grew pale and wan, And she longed this knight to see. 25 Says, ‘Wae to the fox came amo our flock! I wish he had taen them a’ Before that he’d taen frae me what he took; It’s occasiond my downfa.’ 26 It fell ance upon a time She was ca’ing hame her kye, There came a troop o merry gentlemen, And they wyled the bonny lassie by. 27 But one o them spake as he rode past, Says, Who owes the bairn ye are wi? A little she spake, but thought wi hersell, ‘Perhaps to ane as gude as thee.’ 28 O then she did blush as he did pass by, And dear! but she thought shame, And all that she did say to him, ‘Sir, I have a husband at hame.’ 29 ‘Ye lie, ye lie, ye well-far’d maid, Sae loud as I hear you lie! For dinna ye mind yon misty night, Ye were in the bught wi me? ‘O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom, The broom o the Cowdenknowes! Aye say sweet as I heard you sing, In the ewe-bughts, milking your ewes.’ 30 ‘O well do I mind, kind sir,’ she said, ‘As ye rode over the hill; Ye took frae me my maidenhead, Fell sair against my will. ‘O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom, The broom o the Cowdenknowes! And aye sae sair as I rue the day I met you, milking my ewes. 31 ‘And aye as ye spake, ye lifted your hat, Ye had a merry winking ee; I ken you well to be the man, Then kind sir, O pity me!’ 32 ‘Win up, win up, fair maiden,’ he said, ‘Nae langer here ye’ll stay; This night ye ‘se be my wedded wife, Without any more delay.’ 33 He lighted aff his milk-white steed And set the lassie on; ‘Ca in your kye, auld man,’ he did say, ‘She’ll neer ca them in again. 34 ‘I am the Earl o the Rock-rivers, Hae fifty ploughs and three, And am sure I’ve chosen the fairest maid That ever my eyes did see.’