‘O wherefore should I tell my grief, Since lax[1274] I canna find? I’m stown frae a’ my kin and friends, And my love I left behind. XIX ‘But had I paper, pen, and ink, Before that it were day, I yet might get a letter sent In time to Johny Hay.’ XX O she’s got paper, pen, and ink, And candle that she might see, And she has written a broad letter To Johny at Dundee. XXI And she has gotten a bonny boy, That was baith swift and strang, Wi’ philabeg and bonnet blue, Her errand for to gang. XXII ‘O boy, gin ye’d my blessing win And help me in my need, Run wi’ this letter to my love, And bid him come wi’ speed. XXIII ‘And here’s a chain of good red gowd, And gowden guineas three, And when you’ve well your errand done, You’ll get them for your fee.’ XXIV The boy he ran o’er hill and dale, Fast as a bird cou’d flee, And ere the sun was twa hours height The boy was at Dundee. XXV And when he came to Johny’s door He knockèd loud and sair; Then Johny to the window came, And loudly cry’d, ‘Wha’s there?’-- XXVI ‘O here’s a letter I have brought, Which ye maun quickly read, And, gin ye wou’d your lady save, Gang back wi’ me wi’ speed.’ XXVII O when he had the letter read, An angry man was he; He says, ‘Glenlyon, thou shalt rue This deed of villany! XXVIII ‘Woe be to thee, Glenlyon!’ he says, ‘An ill death may thou dee! Thou micht hae ta’en anither woman, And let my lady be. XXIX ‘O saddle to me the black, the black, O saddle to me the brown, O saddle to me the swiftest steed That e’er rade frae the town. XXX ‘And arm ye well, my merry men a’, And follow me to the glen, For I vow I’ll neither eat nor sleep Till I get my love again.’ XXXI He’s mounted on a milk-white steed, The boy upon a gray, And they got to Glenlyon’s castle About the close of day. XXXII As Baby at her window stood, The west wind saft did bla’; She heard her Johny’s well-kent voice Beneath the castle wa’. XXXIII ‘O Baby, haste, the window jump! I’ll kep you in my arm; My merry men a’ are at the yate, To rescue you frae harm.’ XXXIV She’s to the window fixt her sheets And slippèd safely down, And Johny catch’d her in his arms, Ne’er loot her touch the ground. XXXV She’s mounted on her Johny’s horse, Fu’ blithely can she say,-- ‘Glenlyon, you hae lost your bride! She’s aff wi’ Johny Hay!’ XXXVI Glenlyon and his brother John Were birling in the ha’, When they heard Johny’s bridle ring, As fast he rade awa’. XXXVII