Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

18
Whan she cam to the king's court,
She rappit wi' a ring;
Sae ready was the king himsel'
To lat the lady in.
" Gude day, gude day, my liege the king,
Gude day, gude day, to thee;"
" Gude day," quo' he, " my lady fair,
What is't ye want wi* me?"
" There is a knicht into your court,
This day has rohbed me;"
—
" O has he tane your gowd," he says,
" Or has he tane your fee?"
" He has na tane my gowd," she says,
" Nor yet has he my fee;
But he has tane my maiden-head,
The flow'r o' my bodie."
" O gin* he be a single man,
His body I'll gie thee;
But gin he be a married man,
I'll hang him on a tree."
* Gin—if.