Then in it came him Brown Robin Frae hunting o’ the deer, But whan he saw the King was there, He started back for fear. XLVIII The King has ta’en him by the hand And bade him naething dread; Says, ‘Ye maun leave the good green-wood, Come to the court wi’ speed.’ XLIX Then up he took Brown Robin’s son, And set him on his knee; Says, ‘Gin ye live to wield a bran’, My bowman ye sall be.’ L The King he sent for robes o’ green, And girdles o’ shining gold; He gart the ladies be array’d Most comely to behold. LI They’ve doen them unto Mary Kirk, And there gat fair weddìng, And whan the news spread o’er the lan’, For joy the bells did ring. LII Then out it spak’ her Rose the Red, And a hearty laugh laugh’d she; ‘I wonder what would our step-dame say, Gin she this sight did see!’ FOOTNOTES: [388] bigly = commodious, habitable. [389] makes = means. [390] bruik = brook enjoy. [391] mane = moan. [392] abune their bree = above their brows. [393] hight = was called. [394] Roun = roan, red. [395] knave-bairn = man-child. [396] pine = pain. [397] dreed = endured. [398] wons = dwells. [399] fell = kill. [400] bale = harm. _56. Leesome Brand_ _or, The Sheath and the Knife_ I ‘There is a feast in your father’s house, _The broom blooms bonnie and sae it is fair_-- It becomes you and me to be very douce[401], _And we’ll never gang down to the broom nae mair.’_ II But it is talk’d all over [the land], ‘Lady Marget’s plighted to Leesome Brand.’ III He’s done him to her father’s stable And tane twa steeds baith wicht[402] and able: IV Ane for him, and another for her To carry them baith wi’ might and virr[403]. V When they had ridden about six mile, Lady Marget then began to fail. VI ‘O gin I had but a gude midwife Here this day to save my life! VII ‘Ye’ll take your arrow and your bow And ye will hunt the deer and roe. VIII ‘But be sure ye touch not the milk-white hynde, For she is o’ the woman-kind.’ IX He took sic pleasure in deer and rae Till he forgot his ladye gay. X Till by it came that milk-white hynde, And then he mind on his ladye syne. XI He heard her gie a loud, loud cry, He shot his bow, and he let her lie. XII When he saw she was lying still, He threw down his bow and came running her till[404]; XIII But he found his ladye lying dead, Likewise her young son at her head. XIV He’s houkit[405] a grave, long, large and wide, He’s buried his auld[406] son doun by her side. XV It was nae wonder his heart was sair When he shool’d[407] the mools[408] on her yellow hair. XVI His mother lay owre her castle wa’; There was music and minstrels and dancing and a’.