Part 2 / Book 6 — 153. The Lament of the Border Widow

I My love he built me a bonny bower, And clad it a’ wi’ lilye flour; A brawer bower ye ne’er did see, Than my true love he built for me. II There came a man, by middle day, He spied his sport, and went away; And brought the King that very night, Who brake my bower, and slew my knight. III He slew my knight, to me sae dear; He slew my knight, and poin’d[1289] his gear; My servants all for life did flee, And left me in extremitie. IV I sew’d his sheet, making my mane; I watch’d the corpse, myself alane; I watch’d his body, night and day; No living creature came that way. V I took his body on my back, And whiles I gaed, and whiles I sat; I digg’d a grave, and laid him in, And happ’d him with the sod sae green. VI But think na ye my heart was sair, When I laid the moul’ on his yellow hair; O think na ye my heart was wae, When I turn’d about, away to gae? VII Nae living man I’ll love again, Since that my lovely knight is slain; Wi’ ae lock of his yellow hair I’ll chain my heart for evermair.