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I
‘O BRENT’S your brow, my Lady Elspat; | |
| O gowden yellow is your hair! | |
| Of a’ the maids o’ fair Scotland | |
| There’s nane like Lady Elspat fair.’ | |
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II
‘Perform your vows,’ she says, ‘Sweet William; | 5 |
| The vows which ye ha’ made to me; | |
| And at the back o’ my mither’s castle | |
| This night I’ll surely meet wi’ thee.’ | |
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III
But wae be to her brother’s page, | |
| Wha heard the words this twa did say! | 10 |
| He’s tauld them to her lady mither, | |
| Wha wrought Sweet William mickle wae. | |
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IV
For she’s ta’en him, Sweet William, | |
| And she ’s gar’d bind him wi ’s bow-string. | |
| Till the red blood o’ his fair body | 15 |
| Frae ilka nail o’ his hand did spring. | |
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V
O it fell ance upon a time | |
| That the Lord Justice came to town; | |
| Out she has ta’en him, Sweet William, | |
| Brought him before the Lord Justice boun’. | 20 |
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VI
And what is the crime now, madame,’ he says, | |
| ‘Has been committed by this young man?’— | |
| ‘O he has broken my bonny castle, | |
| That was well biggit wi’ lime and stane. | |
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VII
‘And he has broken my bonny coffers, | 25 |
| That was well bandit wi’ aiken ban’; | |
| And he has stolen my rich jewels; | |
| I wot he has them every ane.’ | |
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VIII
Then out it spak’ her Lady Elspat | |
| As she sat by the Lord Justice’ knee: | 30 |
| ‘Now ye hae tauld your tale, mither, | |
| I pray, Lord Justice, you’ll now hear me. | |
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IX
‘He hasna broken her bonny castle, | |
| That was well biggit wi’ lime and stane; | |
| Nor has he stolen her rich jewels, | 35 |
| For I wot she has them every one. | |
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X
‘But tho’ he was my first true love, | |
| And tho’ I had sworn to be his bride, | |
| ’Cause he had not a great estate | |
| She would this way our loves divide.’ | 40 |
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XI
Then out it spak’ the Lord Justice | |
| (I wot the tear was in his e’e): | |
| ‘I see nae fault in this young man; | |
| Sae loose his bands, and set him free. | |
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XII
‘Tak’ back your love now, Lady Elspat, | 45 |
| And my best blessing you baith upon! | |
| For gin he be your first true love, | |
| He is my eldest sister’s son. | |
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XIII
‘There is a steed within my stable | |
| Cost me baith gowd and white monèy; | 50 |
| Ye’se get as mickle o’ my free land | |
| As he’ll ride about in a summer’s day.’ | |
| | | GLOSS: brent] straight, smooth. biggit] built. bandit] bound. aiken] oaken. |
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