9 She jumped aff frae ahint him, As fair as any queen; ‘Come down, come down, Lord John,’ he says, ‘And welcome your lady hame. 10 ‘It is the tall and comely youth, Sweet John o Hazelgreen; If we canna see it bridal-day, It shall be bridal-een.’ D =a.= Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 253. =b.= Chambers, Scottish Ballads, p. 319. 1 As I went forth to take the air Intill an evening clear, And there I spied a lady fair, Making a heavy bier; Making a heavy bier, I say, But and a piteous meen, And aye she sighd, and said, Alas, For John o Hazelgreen! 2 The sun was sinking in the west, The stars were shining clear, When thro the thickets o the wood, A gentleman did appear. Says, Who has done you the wrong, fair maid, And left you here alane? Or who has kissd your lovely lips, That ye ca Hazelgreen? 3 ‘Hold your tongue, kind sir,’ she said, ‘And do not banter so; How will ye add affliction Unto a lover’s woe? For none’s done me the wrong,’ she said, ‘Nor left me here alane; Nor none has kissd my lovely lips, That I ca Hazelgreen.’ 4 ‘Why weep ye by the tide, lady? Why weep ye by the tide? How blythe and happy might he be Gets you to be his bride! Gets you to be his bride, fair maid, And him I’ll no bemean; But when I take my words again, Whom call ye Hazelgreen? 5 ‘What like a man was Hazelgreen? Will ye show him to me?’ ‘He is a comely, proper youth I in my sleep did see; Wi arms tall, and fingers small, He’s comely to be seen;’ And aye she loot the tears down fall For John o Hazelgreen. 6 ‘If ye’ll forsake young Hazelgreen, And go along with me, I’ll wed you to my eldest son, Make you a lady free.’ ‘It’s for to wed your eldest son I am a maid oer mean; I’ll rather stay at home,’ she says ‘And die for Hazelgreen.’ 7 ‘If ye’ll forsake young Hazelgreen, And go along with me, I’ll wed you to my second son, And your weight o gowd I’ll gie.’ ‘It’s for to wed your second son I am a maid oer mean; I’ll rather stay at home,’ she says, ‘And die for Hazelgreen.’ 8 Then he’s taen out a siller comb, Combd down her yellow hair; And lookëd in a diamond bright, To see if she were fair. ‘My girl, ye do all maids surpass That ever I have seen; Cheer up your heart, my lovely lass, And hate young Hazelgreen.’ 9 ‘Young Hazelgreen he is my love, And ever mair shall be; I’ll nae forsake young Hazelgreen For a’ the gowd ye’ll gie.’ But aye she sighd, and said, Alas! And made a piteous meen, And aye she loot the tears down fa For John o Hazelgreen.