XVII [She said as she look’d owre] dale and down, ‘My son comes merrilie to the toun.’-- XVIII ‘Seek nae minstrels to play in your room, Your son comes sorry to the toun. XIX ‘O I hae lost my gowden knife; I rather had lost my ain sweet life! XX ‘And I hae lost a far better thing, The gilded sheath that it was in.’-- XXI ‘Are there nae gowdsmiths here in Fife Can make to you anither knife? XXII ‘Are there nae sheath-makers in the land Can make a sheath to Leesome Brand?’-- XXIII ‘There are nae gowdsmiths here in Fife Can make to me sic a gowden knife; XXIV ‘Nor nae sheath-makers in the land Can make to me sic a sheath again. XXV ‘For I’ve lost my lady I loved sae dear, _The broom blooms bonnie and sae it is fair_-- Likewise the son she did me bear, _And we’ll never gang doun to the broom nae mair._’ FOOTNOTES: [401] douce = quiet. [402] wicht = sturdy. [403] virr = vigour. [404] her till = to her. [405] houkit = dug. [406] auld = eldest, first-born. [407] shool’d = shovelled. [408] mools = mould. _57. Babylon_ _or, The Bonnie Banks o’ Fordie_ I There where three ladies live in a bower-- _Eh, wow, bonnie!_ And they went out to pull a flower _On the bonnie banks o’ Fordie._ II They hadna pu’ed a flower but ane, When up started to them a banisht man. III He’s ta’en the first sister by her hand, And he’s turn’d her round and made her stand. IV ‘It’s whether will ye be a rank robber’s wife, Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?’ V ‘It’s I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife, But I’ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.’ VI He’s killed this may, and he’s laid her by, For to bear the red rose company. VII He’s ta’en the second ane by the hand, And he’s turn’d her round and made her stand. VIII ‘It’s whether will ye be a rank robber’s wife, Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?’ IX ‘It’s I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife, But I’ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.’ X He’s killed this may, and he’s laid her by, For to bear the red rose company. XI He’s taken the youngest ane by the hand, And he’s turn’d her round and made her stand. XII Says, ‘Will ye be a rank robber’s wife, Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?’ XIII ‘It’s I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife, Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife. XIV ‘For in this wood a brother I hae; And gin ye kill me, it’s he’ll kill thee.’ XV ‘What’s thy brother’s name? come tell to me.’ ‘My brother’s name is Baby Lon.’ XVI ‘O sister, sister, what have I done! O have I done this ill to thee! XVII ‘O since I’ve done this evil deed, Good sall never be my meed.’ XVIII