"O well is me, my jolly goshawk, That ye can speak and flee; For ye can carry a love-letter To my true love from me."
"O how can I carry a letter to her, 5 When her I do not know? I bear the lips to her never spak, And the eyes that her never saw."
"The thing of my love's face that's white Is that of dove or maw; 10 The thing of my love's face that's red Is like blood shed on snaw.
"And when you come to the castel, Light on the bush of ash; And sit you there and sing our loves, 15 As she comes from the mass.
"And when she gaes into the house, Sit ye upon the whin; And sit you there and sing our loves, As she goes out and in." 20
And when he flew to that castel, He lighted on the ash; And there he sat and sung their loves, As she came from the mass.
And when she went into the house, 25 He flew unto the whin; And there he sat and sung their loves, As she went out and in.
"Come hitherward, my maidens all, And sip red wine anon, 30 Till I go to my west window, And hear a birdie's moan."
She's gane unto her west window, And fainly aye it drew; And soon into her white silk lap 35 The bird the letter threw.
"Ye're bidden send your love a send, For he has sent you twa; And tell him where he can see you, Or he cannot live ava." 40
"I send him the rings from my white fingers, The garlands off my hair; I send him the heart that's in my breast: What would my love have mair? And at the fourth kirk in fair Scotland, 45 Ye'll bid him meet me there."
She hied her to her father dear, As fast as gang could she: "An asking, an asking, my father dear, An asking ye grant me,-- 50 That, if I die in fair England, In Scotland gar bury me.
"At the first kirk of fair Scotland, You cause the bells be rung; At the second kirk of fair Scotland, 55 You cause the mass be sung;
"At the third kirk of fair Scotland, You deal gold for my sake; And at the fourth kirk of fair Scotland, Oh there you'll bury me at! 60
"And now, my tender father dear, This asking grant you me:" "Your asking is but small," he said, "Weel granted it shall be."
[_The lady asks the same boon and receives a similar answer, first from her mother, then from her sister, and lastly from her seven brothers._]
Then down as dead that lady drapp'd, 65 Beside her mother's knee; Then out it spak an auld witch wife, By the fire-side sat she: