But when she look’d on Childe Maurice’ head She ne’er spake words but three: ‘I never bare no child but one, And you have slain him, trulye.’ XXXV And she has taken the bloody head And kiss’d it, cheek and chin: ‘I was once as full o’ Childe Maurice As the hip is o’ the stane. XXXVI ‘I got him in my mother’s bower Wi’ mickle sin and shame; I brought him up in the good greenwood Under the shower and rain.’ XXXVII And she has taken her Childe Maurice And kiss’d him, mouth and chin: ‘O better I love my Childe Maurice Than all my royal kin!’ XXXVIII ‘Woe be to thee!’ John Steward he said, And a woe, woe man was he; ‘For if you had told me he was your son He had never been slain by me.’ XXXIX Says, ‘Wicked be my merry men all, I gave meat, drink and cloth! But could they not have holden me When I was in all that wrath?’ FOOTNOTES: [339] kell = hair-net, i. e. give her as many greetings as there are meshes in a net. [340] leeve = lovely. [341] silver-gris = a fur of silver-grey. [342] yode = walked. [343] blan = stopped, stayed. [344] kepp’d = caught. [345] ezar =? _for_ ‘mazer,’ maple. [346] weed = clothing. [347] lease = leash, thong. [348] ly’ed = lived. [349] tak’ = take, catch. _48. Brown Adam_ I O wha would wish the wind to blau Or the green leaves fa’ therewith? Or wha would wish a lealer love Than Brown Adam the Smith? II But they hae banish’d Brown Adam, Frae father and frae mither; And they hae banish’d Brown Adam, Frae sister and frae brither. III And they hae banish’d Brown Adam Frae the flow’r o’ a’ his kin; And he’s biggit[350] a bow’r i’ the good green-wood Between his ladye and him. IV O it fell once upon a day Brown Adam he thought long, And he is to the green-wood As fast as he could gang. V He has ta’en his bow his arm over, His sword intill his han’, And he is to the good green-wood To hunt some venison. VI O he’s shot up, and he’s shot down The bunting on the breer[351]; And he’s sent it hame to his ladye, Bade her be of good cheer. VII O he’s shot up, and he’s shot down, The linnet on the thorn, And sent it hame to his ladye, Said he’d be hame the morn. VIII When he cam’ till his lady’s bow’r-door He stood a little forbye, And there he heard a fu’ fause knight Tempting his gay ladye. IX O he’s ta’en out a gay gold ring Had cost him mony a poun’; ‘O grant me love for love, ladye, And this sall be your own.’-- X ‘I lo’e Brown Adam well,’ she says, ‘I wot sae does he me; I wadna gie Brown Adam’s love For nae fause knight I see.’ XI