Volume 8 / Part 5 — PART V. (continued 2)

There was a knight, in a summer's night, Appear'd in a lady's hall, As she was walking up and down, Looking o'er her castle wall. "God make you safe and free, fair maid, 5 God make you safe and free!" "O sae fa' you, ye courteous knight; What are your wills wi' me? "My wills wi' you are not sma', lady, My wills wi' you nae sma'; 10 And since there's nane your bower within, Ye'se ha'e my secrets a'. "For here am I a courtier, A courtier come to thee; And if ye winna grant your love, 15 All for your sake I'll dee." "If that ye dee for me, sir knight, Few for you will make meen; For mony gude lord's done the same, Their graves are growing green." 20 "O winna ye pity me, fair maid, O winna ye pity me? O winna ye pity a courteous knight, Whose love is laid on thee?" "Ye say ye are a courteous knight, 25 But I think ye are nane; I think ye're but a millar bred, By the color o' your claithing. "You seem to be some false young man, You wear your hat sae wide; 30 You seem to be some false young man, You wear your boots sae side." "Indeed I am a courteous knight, And of great pedigree; Nae knight did mair for a lady bright 35 Than I will do for thee. "O I'll put smiths in your smithy, To shoe for you a steed; And I'll put tailors in your bower, To make you for a weed. 40 "I will put cooks in your kitchen, And butlers in your ha'; And on the tap o' your father's castle, I'll big gude corn and saw." "If ye be a courteous knight, 45 As I trust not ye be, Ye'll answer some o' the sma' questions That I will ask at thee. "What is the fairest flower, tell me, That grows in muir or dale? 50 Likewise, which is the sweetest bird Sings next the nightingale? Or what's the finest thing," she says, "That king or queen can wale? "The primrose is the fairest flower 55 That grows in muir or dale; The mavis is the sweetest bird Next to the nightingale; And yellow gowd's the finest thing That king or queen can wale. 60 "Ye ha'e asked many questions, lady, I've you as many told;" "But, how many pennies round Make a hundred pounds in gold? "How many of the small fishes, 65 Do swim the salt seas round? Or, what's the seemliest sight you'll see Into a May morning?" "Berry-brown ale, and a birken speal, And wine in a horn green; 70 A milk-white lace in a fair maid's dress, Looks gay in a May morning." "Mony's the questions I've ask'd at thee, And ye've answer'd them a'; Ye are mine, and I am thine, 75 Amo' the sheets sae sma'." "You may be my match, kind sir, You may be my match and more; There ne'er was ane came sic a length, Wi' my father's heir before. 80 "My father's lord o' nine castles, My mother she's lady ower three, And there is nane to heir them all, No never a ane but me; Unless it be Willie, my ae brother, 85 But he's far ayont the sea." "If your father's laird o' nine castles, Your mother lady ower three; I am Willie your ae brother, Was far beyond the sea." 90 "If ye be Willie, my ae brother, As I doubt sair ye be; But if it's true ye tell me now, This night I'll gang wi' thee." "Ye've ower ill washen feet, Janet, 95 And ower ill washen hands, And ower coarse robes on your body, Alang wi' me to gang. "The worms they are my bed-fellows, And the cauld clay my sheet; 100 And the higher that the wind does blaw, The sounder I do sleep. "My body's buried in Dumfermline, And far beyond the sea; But day nor night, nae rest cou'd get, 105 All for the pride o' thee. "Leave aff your pride, jelly Janet," he says, "Use it not ony mair; Or when ye come where I hae been, You will repent it sair. 110 "Cast aff, cast aff, sister," he says, "The gowd lace fray your crown; For if ye gang where I ha'e been, Ye'll wear it laigher down. "When ye're in the gude church set, 115 The gowd pins in your hair, Ye take mair delight in your feckless dress Than ye do in your morning prayer. "And when ye walk in the church-yard, And in your dress are seen, 120 There is nae lady that sees your face But wishes your grave were green. "You're straight and tall, handsome withall, But your pride owergoes your wit; But if ye do not your ways refrain, 125 In Pirie's chair ye'll sit. "In Pirie's chair you'll sit, I say, The lowest seat o' hell; If ye do not amend your ways, It's there that ye must dwell." 130 Wi' that he vanish'd frae her sight, Wi' the twinkling o' an eye; Naething mair the lady saw, But the gloomy clouds and sky.

A noble lord of high renown, Two daughters had, the eldest brown, The youngest beautiful and fair: By chance a noble knight came there. Her father said, "Kind sir, I have 5 Two daughters: which do you crave?" "One that is beautiful," he cried; The noble knight he then replied: "She's young, she's beautiful and gay, And is not to be given away, 10 But as jewels are bought and sold; She shall bring me her weight in gold. "The price I think ye need not grudge, Since I will freely give as much With her one sister, if I can 15 Find out some other nobleman." With that bespoke the noble knight, "I'd sooner have the beauty bright, At that vast rate, renownèd lord, Than the other with a vast reward." 20 So then the bargain it was made; But ere the money could be paid, He had it of a wealthy Jew; The sum so large, the writings drew That if he failed, or miss'd the day, 25 So many ounces he should pay Of his own flesh, instead of gold; All was agreed, the sum was told. So he returned immediately Unto the lord, where he did buy 30 His daughter fine, I do declare, And paid him down the money there. He bought her there, it is well known Unto mankind; she was his own; By her a son he did enjoy, 35 A sweet and comely handsome boy. At length the time of pay drew near, When the knight did begin to fear; He dreaded much the cruel Jew, Because the money it was due. 40 His lady asked him why he grieved: He said, "My jewel, I received Such sum of money of a Jew, And now the money it is due. "And now the day of payment's come, 45 I'm sure I cannot pay the sum; He'll have my flesh, weight for weight, Which makes my grief and sorrow great." "Hush, never fear him," she replied; "We'll cross the raging ocean wide, 50 And so secure you from the fate:" To her request he yielded straight. Then having pass'd the raging seas, They travelled on, till by degrees Unto the German court they came, 55 The knight, his son, and comely dame. Unto the Emperor he told His story of the sum of gold That he had borrowed of a Jew, And that for fear of death he flew. 60 The Emperor he did erect A court for them, and show'd respect Unto his guests, because they came From Britain, that blest land of fame. As here he lived in delight, 65 A Dutch lord told our English knight, That he a ton of gold would lay, He could enjoy his lady gay. From her, the lord he was to bring A rich and costly diamond ring, 70 That was to prove and testify How he did with his lady lie. He tries, but never could obtain Her favour, but with high disdain She did defy his base intent; 75 So to her chambermaid he went, And told her if she would but steal Her lady's ring, and to conceal The same, and bring it to him straight, She should enjoy a fine estate. 80 In hopes of such a fine reward, The ring she stole; then the Dutch lord Did take it to the noble knight, Who almost swooned at the sight. Home he goes to the lady straight; 85 Meeting her at the palace gate, He flung her headlong into the mote, And left her there to sink or float. Soon after that, in clothes of green, She like a warlike knight was seen, 90 And in most gallant gay deport She rode unto the Emperor's court. Now when the Emperor beheld Her brave deportment, he was fill'd With admiration at the sight, 95 Who call'd herself an English knight. The Emperor then did reply, "We have an English knight to die For drowning of his lady gay;" Quoth she, "I'd see him, if I may." 100 'Twas granted; so to him she came, And calling of him by his name, She said, "Kind sir, be of good cheer; Your friend I'll be, you need not fear." She to the Emperor did ride, 105 And said, "Now let this cause be tried Once more, for I've a mind to save This noble gallant from the grave." It being done, the court was set; The Dutch lord came, seeming to fret, 110 About the ring seeming to fear, How truth would make his shame appear. And so it did, and soon they call The maid, who on her knees did fall Before the court, and did confess 115 The Dutch lord's unworthiness. The court repliéd, "Is it so? The lady, too, for ought we know, May be alive; therefore we'll stay The sentence till another day." 120 Now the Dutch lord gave him a ton Of gold, which he had justly won, And so he did with shame and grief, And thus the knight obtain'd relief. The Dutch lord to revenge the spite 125 Upon our noble English knight, Did send a letter out of hand, And so the Jew did understand, How he was in a German court; So here upon this good report, 130 The Jew has cross'd the ocean wide, Resolving to be satisfied. Soon as e'er he fixed his eyes, Unto the knight in wrath he cries, "Your hand and seal I pray behold; 135 Your flesh I'll have instead of gold." [Then] said the noble knight in green, "May not your articles be seen?" "Yes, that they may," replied the Jew, "And I'm resolved to have my due." 140 So then the knight began to read; At length she said, "I find, indeed, Nothing but flesh you are to have;" Answers the Jew, "That's all I crave." The poor distressed knight was brought; 145 The bloody-minded Jew he thought That day to be reveng'd on him, And part his flesh from every limb. The knight in green said, "Mr. Jew, There's nothing else but flesh your due; 150 Then see no drop of blood you shed, For if you do, off goes your head. "Pray take your due, with all my heart, But with his blood I will not part." With that the Jew sneaked away, 155 And had not one word more to say. No sooner were these troubles past, But his wife's father came at last, Resolving for to have his life, For drowning his beloved wife. 160 Over the seas her father brought Many brave horses; one was bought By the pretended knight in green, Which was the best that e'er was seen. So to the German court he came, 165 Declaring, such a one by name Had drowned his fair daughter dear, And ought to die a death severe. They brought him from the prison then, Guarded by many armed men, 170 Unto the place where he must die, And the young knight was standing by. Then from her side her sword she drew, And run her gelding through and through. Her father said, "Why do you so?" 175 "I may; it is my own, you know. "You sold your gelding, 'tis well known; I bought it, making it my own, And may do what I please with it;" And then to her he did submit. 180 "Here is a man arraign'd and cast, And brought to suffer death at last, Because your daughter dear he slew; Which if he did, what's that to you? "You had your money, when you sold 185 Your daughter for her weight in gold; Wherefore he might, it is well known, Do what he pleased with his own." So having chang'd her garments green, And dress'd herself like a fair queen, 190 Her father and her husband straight Both knew her, and their joys were great. Soon they did carry the report Unto the famous German court, How the renowned English knight 195 Had found his charming lady bright. So the Emperor and the lords of fame, With cheerful hearts they did proclaim An universal joy, to see His lady's life at liberty.

"First I was lady o' Black Riggs, And then into Kincraigie; Now I am the Lady o' Gight, And my love he's ca'd Geordie. "I was the mistress o' Pitfan, 5 And madam o' Kincraigie; But now my name is Lady Anne, And I am Gight's own lady. "We courted in the woods o' Gight, Where birks and flow'rs spring bonny; 10 But pleasures I had never one, But sorrows thick and mony. "He never own'd me as his wife, Nor honour'd me as his lady, But day by day he saddles the grey, 15 And rides to Bignet's lady." When Bignet he got word of that, That Gight lay wi' his lady, He's casten him in prison strong, To ly till lords were ready. 20 "Where will I get a little wee boy, That is baith true and steady, That will run on to bonny Gight, And bring to me my lady?" "O here am I, a little wee boy, 25 That is baith true and steady, That will run to the yates o' Gight, And bring to you your lady." "Ye'll bid her saddle the grey, the grey, The brown rode ne'er so smartly; 30 Ye'll bid her come to Edinbro' town, A' for the life of Geordie." The night was fair, the moon was clear, And he rode by Bevany, And stopped at the yates o' Gight, 35 Where leaves were thick and mony. The lady look'd o'er castle wa', And dear but she was sorry! "Here comes a page frae Edinbro' town; A' is nae well wi' Geordie. 40 "What news, what news, my little boy? Come tell me soon and shortly;" "Bad news, bad news, my lady," he said, "They're going to hang your Geordie." "Ye'll saddle to me the grey, the grey, 45 The brown rade ne'er so smartly; And I'll awa' to Edinbro' town, Borrow the life o' Geordie." When she came near to Edinbro' town, I wyte she didna tarry; 50 But she has mounted her grey steed, And ridden the queen's berry. When she came to the boat of Leith, I wat she didna tarry; She gae the boatman a guinea o' gowd, 55 To boat her ower the ferry. When she came to the pier o' Leith, The poor they were sae many; She dealt the gowd right liberallie, And bade them pray for Geordie. 60 When she gaed up the tolbooth stair, The nobles there were many: And ilka ane stood hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordie. She gae a blink out ower them a', 65 And three blinks to her Geordie; But when she saw his een fast bound, A swoon fell in this lady. "Whom has he robb'd? What has he stole? Or has he killed ony? 70 Or what's the crime that he has done, His foes they are sae mony?" "He hasna brunt, he hasna slain, He hasna robbed ony; But he has done another crime, 75 For which he will pay dearly." Then out it speaks Lord Montague, (O wae be to his body!) "The day we hang'd young Charles Hay, The morn we'll head your Geordie." 80 Then out it speaks the king himsell, Vow, but he spake bonny! "Come here, young Gight, confess your sins, Let's hear if they be mony. "Come here, young Gight, confess your sins, 85 See ye be true and steady; And if your sins they be but sma', Then ye'se win wi' your lady." "Nane have I robb'd, nought have I stown, Nor have I killed ony; 90 But ane o' the king's best brave steeds, I sold him in Bevany." Then out it speaks the king again, Dear, but he spake bonny! "That crime's nae great; for your lady's sake, 95 Put on your hat now, Geordie." Then out it speaks Lord Montague, O wae be to his body! "There's guilt appears in Gight's ain face, Ye'll cross examine Geordie." 100 "Now since it all I must confess, My crime's baith great and mony: A woman abused, five orphan babes, I kill'd them for their money." Out it speaks the king again, 105 And dear but he was sorry! "Your confession brings confusion, Take aff your hat now, Geordie." Then out it speaks the lady hersell, Vow, but she was sorry! 110 "Now all my life I'll wear the black, Mourn for the death o' Geordie." Lord Huntly then he did speak out, O fair mot fa' his body! "I there will fight doublet alane, 115 Or ony thing ails Geordie." Then out it speaks the king again, Vow, but he spake bonny! "If ye'll tell down ten thousand crowns, Ye'll buy the life o' Geordie." 120 She spread her mantle on the ground, Dear, but she spread it bonny! Some gae her crowns, some ducadoons, And some gae dollars mony. Then she tauld down ten thousand crowns,— 125 "Put on your hat, my Geordie." Then out it speaks Lord Montague, Wae be to his body! "I wisht that Gight wanted the head; I might enjoy'd his lady." 130 Out it speaks the lady hersell, "Ye need ne'er wish my body; O ill befa' your wizzen'd snout! Wou'd ye compare wi' Geordie?" When she was in her saddle set, 135 Riding the leys sae bonny, The fiddle and fleet play'd ne'er sae sweet, As she behind her Geordie. "O Geordie, Geordie, I love you well, Nae jealousie cou'd move me; 140 The birds in air, that fly in pairs, Can witness how I love you. "Ye'll call for one, the best o' clerks, Ye'll call him soon and shortly; As he may write what I indite, 145 A' this I've done for Geordie." He turn'd him right and round about, And high, high looked Geordie; "A finger o' Bignet's lady's hand Is worth a' your fair body." 150 "My lands may a' be masterless, My babes may want their mother; But I've made a vow, will keep it true, I'll be bound to no other." These words they caus'd a great dispute, 155 And proud and fierce grew Geordie; A sharp dagger he pulled out, And pierc'd the heart o's lady. The lady's dead, and Gight he's fled, And left his lands behind him; 160 Altho' they searched south and north, There were nane there cou'd find him. Now a' that liv'd into Black Riggs, And likewise in Kincraigie, For seven years were clad in black, 165 To mourn for Gight's own lady.