She set her milke-white foot on board, Cried, Hail ye, Domine! And the Billy Blind was the steerer o’t, To row her o’er the sea. XXIV Whan she came to young Bekie’s gate, She heard the music play; Sae well she kent frae a’ she heard, It was his wedding day. XXV She’s pitten her han’ in her pocket, Gi’en the porter guineas three; ‘Hae, tak ye that, ye proud portèr, Bid the bride-groom speake to me.’ XXVI O whan that he cam up the stair, He fell low down on his knee: He hail’d the king, and he hail’d the queen, And he hail’d him, Young Bekie. XXVII ‘O I’ve been porter at your gates This thirty years an’ three; But there’s three ladies at them now, Their like I never did see. XXVIII ‘There’s ane o’ them dress’d in red scarlèt, An’ twa in dainty green, An’ they hae girdles about their middles Wou’d buy an earldome.’ XXIX Then out it spake the bierly[326] bride, Was a’ goud to the chin; ‘Gin she be braw without,’ she says, ‘We’s be as braw within.’ XXX Then up it starts him, Young Bekie, And the tears was in his e’e: ‘I’ll lay my life it’s Burd Isbel, Come o’er the sea to me.’ XXXI O quickly ran he down the stair, And whan he saw ’t was shee, He kindly took her in his arms, And kiss’d her tenderly. XXXII ‘O hae ye forgotten, Young Bekie, The vow ye made to me, Whan I took you out o’ the prison strong, Whan ye was condemn’d to die? XXXIII ‘I gae you a steed was good in need, An’ a saddle o’ royal bone, A leash o’ hounds o’ ae litter, An’ Hector callèd one.’ XXXIV It was well kent what the lady said, That it wasnae a lee, For at ilka word the lady spake, The hound fell at her knee. XXXV ‘Tak hame, tak hame your daughter dear, A blessing gae her wi’! For I maun marry my Burd Isbel, That’s come o’er the sea to me.’ XXXVI ‘Is this the custom o’ your house, Or the fashion o’ your lan’, To marry a maid in a May mornin’, An’ to send her back at even?’ FOOTNOTES: [318] borrow = ransom. [319] but = out. [320] ben = in. [321] rottons = rats. [322] royal bone = ivory. [323] Or than = Or else. [324] Billy Blind = a friendly household fairy. See p. 80. [325] marys = maids. [326] bierly = stately. _45. Young Beichan_ (_Another version of the foregoing_) I In London was Young Beichan born, He long’d strange countries for to see; But he was ta’en by a savage Moor Who handled him right cruellie. II For he view’d the fashions of that land, Their way of worship viewèd he; But to Mahound or Termagant Would Beichan never bend a knee. III