82 Young Waters
I
About Yule, when the wind blew cule,
And the round tables began,
O there is come to our King’s court
Mony a well-favor’d man.
II
The Queen luikt owre the castle-wa’
Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw Young Waters
Come riding to the town.
III
His footmen they did rin before,
His horsemen rade behind;
Ane mantel of the burning gowd
Did keip him frae the wind.
IV
Gowden-graith’d514 his horse before,
And siller-shod behind;
The horse Young Waters rade upon
Was fleeter than the wind.
V
Out then spak’ a wylie lord,
Unto the Queen said he:
‘O tell me wha’s the fairest face
Rides in the company?’—
VI
‘I’ve sene lord, and I’ve sene laird,
And knights of high degree,
Bot a fairer face than Young Waters’
Mine eyne did never see.’
VII
Out then spake the jealous King,
And an angry man was he:
‘O if he had bin twice as fair,
You micht have excepted me.’
VIII
‘You’re neither laird nor lord,’ she says,
‘But the King that wears the crown;
There is not a knight in fair Scotland
But to thee maun bow down.’
IX
For a’ that she cou’d do or say,
Appeas’d he wad nae bee,
But for the words which she had said,
Young Waters he maun dee.
X
They hae ta’en Young Waters,
And put fetters to his feet;
They hae ta’en Young Waters, and
Thrown him in dungeon deep.
XI
‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,
In the wind but and the weet;
But I neir rade thro’ Stirling town
Wi’ fetters at my feet.
XII
‘Aft have I ridden thro’ Stirling town,
In the wind but and the rain;
But I neir rade thro’ Stirling town
Neir to return again.’
XIII
They hae ta’en to the heiding-hill515
His young son in his craddle;
And they hae ta’en to the heiding-hill
His horse but and his saddle.
XIV
They hae ta’en to the heiding-hill
His lady fair to see;
And for the words the Queen had spoke
Young Waters he did dee.
Footnotes
514 graith’d = harnessed.
515 heiding-hill = beheading mound.