Then he rade in, and further in, And he swam to an’ fro, Until he’s grippit a hazel bush That brung him to the brow. XIII Then he is on to Margaret’s bour, And tirlèd at the pin; But doors were steek’d and windows barr’d, And nane wad let him in. XIV ‘O open the door to me, Marg’ret! O open and let me in! For my boots are fu’ o’ Clyde’s water And the rain rins owre my chin.’-- XV ‘I darena open the door to you, Nor darena let you in; For my mither she is fast asleep, And I maun mak’ nae din.’-- XVI ‘O hae ye ne’er a stable?’ he says, ‘Or hae ye ne’er a barn? Or hae ye ne’er a wild-goose house Where I might rest till morn?’-- XVII ‘My barn it is fu’ o’ corn,’ she says, ‘My stable is fu’ o’ hay; My house is fu’ o’ merry young men; They winna remove till day.’-- XVIII ‘O fare ye weel then, May Marg’ret, Sin’ better may na be! I’ve gotten my mither’s malison This nicht, coming to thee.’ XIX He’s mounted on his coal-black steed, --O but his heart was wae! But ere he came to Clyde’s water ’Twas half up owre the brae. XX ‘An hey, Willie! an hoa, Willie! Winna ye turn agen?’ But aye the louder that she cried He rade agenst the win’. XXI As he rade owre yon high high hill, And doun yon dowie den, The roaring that was in Clyde’s water Wad fley’d a thousand men. XXII Then he rade in, and farther in, Till he cam’ to the chine; The rushing that was in Clyde’s water Took Willie’s riding-cane. XXIII He lean’d him owre his saddle-bow To catch the rod by force; The rushing that was in Clyde’s water Took Willie frae his horse. XXIV ‘O how can I turn my horse’s head? How can I learn to sowm[558]? I’ve gotten my mither’s malison, And it’s here that I maun drown!’ XXV O he swam high, and he swam low, And he swam to and fro, But he couldna spy the hazel-bush Wad bring him to the brow. XXVI He’s sunk and he never rase agen Into the pot sae deep ... And up it waken’d May Margaret Out o’ her drowsie sleep. XXVII ‘Come hither, come here, my mither dear, Read me this dreary dream; I dream’d my Willie was at our gates, And nane wad let him in.’-- XXVIII ‘Lie still, lie still now, my Meggie: Lie still and tak’ your rest; Sin’ your true-love was at your gates It’s but twa quarters past.’-- XXIX Nimbly, nimbly rase she up, And nimbly put she on; And the higher that the lady cried, The louder blew the win’. XXX The firstan step that she stept in, She steppit to the queet[559]: ‘Ohon, alas!’ said that lady, ‘This water’s wondrous deep.’ XXXI