‘If she be sick and like to die, Then why wears she the gold on high?’ XVI When came the carl to this lady’s yett[281], Rudely, rudely he rapp’d thereat. XVII ‘O where’s the lady o’ this ha’?’-- ‘She’s out with her maids to play at the ba’.’-- XVIII ‘Ha, ha, ha! ye are a’ mista’en; Gae count your maidens o’er again. XIX ‘I met her far beyond the lea, With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be.’ XX Her father arm’d of his men fifteen, And they’re ridden after them all-by-dene[282]. XXI O’er her left shoulder the lady look’d then: ‘O Earl Bran’, we both are ta’en!’-- XXII ‘If they come on me ane by ane, Ye may stand by and see them slain. XXIII ‘But if they come on me ane and all, Ye may stand by and see me fall.’ XXIV They have come on him ane by ane, And fourteen men he has them slain. XXV But the fifteenth man behind stole round, And he’s gi’en him a deadly wound. XXVI But for a’ sae wounded as Earl Brand was He has set his lady on her horse. XXVII They rode till they came to the water o’ Doune. And there he lighted to wash his wound. XXVIII ‘O Earl Bran’, I see your heart’s bloud!’-- ‘It’s na but the glent[283] o’ my scarlet hood.’ XXIX They rode till they came to his mother’s yett, So faint and feebly he rapp’d thereat. XXX ‘O my son’s slain, he’s falling to swoun, And a’ for the sake of an English loun!’-- XXXI ‘So say not sae, my dearest mother, But marry her to my youngest brother. XXXII ‘This has not been the death o’ ane, But it’s been the death o’ fair seventeen.’ FOOTNOTES: [279] tide = time, season. [280] lee-lang = live-long. [281] yett = gate. [282] all-by-dene = all together. [283] glent = gleam. _39. The Douglas Tragedy_ I ‘Rise up, rise up, now Lord Douglas,’ she says, ‘And put on your armour so bright; Let it never be said that a daughter of thine Was married to a lord under night. II ‘Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons, And put on your armour so bright, And take better care of your youngest sister, For your eldest’s awa the last night.’ III He’s mounted her on a milk-white steed, And himself on a dapple grey, With a bugelet horn hung down his side; And lightly they rode away. IV Lord William look’d o’er his left shoulder, To see what he could see, And there he spy’d her seven brethren bold Come riding over the lea. V ‘Light down, light down, Lady Margret,’ he said, ‘And hold my steed in your hand, Until that against your seven brethren bold, And your father, I mak’ a stand.’ VI