Note 43 — WALK III.
Reading edition
Two of these songs, being less well known than others, I quote from the versions given me by Lady John Scott.
THE WATER O' WEARIE'S WELL.
There cam a bird out o' a bush On water for to dine, And sighing sair, said the King's dochter, "O! wae's this heart o' mine." He's ta'en a Harp into his hand, He's harped them a' asleep, Except it was the King's dochter, Who ae wink couldna get. He's luppen on his berry-brown steed, Ta'en her on behind himsel', And they rade down to that water That they ca' Wearie's Well. "Wade in, wade in, my ladye fair, Nae harm shall thee befa'. Aft times I hae watered my guid steed Wi' the water o' Wearie's Well." The first step she steppit in, She steppit to the knee, And sighin' said this ladye fair, "This water's no' for me." "Wade in, wade in, my ladye fair, Nae harm shall thee befa'. Aft times I hae watered my guid steed Wi' the water o' Wearie's Well." The next step that she stepped in, She steppit to the middle, And sighin' said that ladye fair, "I've wat my golden girdle." "Wade in, wade in, my ladye fair, Nae harm shall thee befa'. Aft times I hae watered my guid steed Wi' the water o' Wearies Well." The next step that she stepped in, She steppit to the chin, And sighin' said this ladye fair, "It will gar our loves to twine." "Seven King's dochters I hae drowned In the water o' Wearie's Well, And I'll mak' you the eighth o' them, An' I'll ring for you the Bell." "Sin' I am standin' here," she says, "This dowie death to die, Grant me ae kiss o' your fause, fause mouth, For that would comfort me." He leaned him ower his saddle bow To kiss her cheek and chin, She's ta'en him in her arms twa And thrown him headlong in. "Sin' seven King's dochters ye've drowned there In the water o' Wearie's Well, I'll mak' you bridegroom to them a', An' ring the Bell mysel'." An' aye she warsled, an' aye she swam, Till she won to dry land, Then thankit God maist heartilie The dangers she'd ower cum.
The other song is the Scottish version of the old fairy tale of the Frog Prince, and runs thus:—
THE LADYE AND THE FAIRY; OR THE PADDO'S SANG.
Oh, open the door, my hinnie, my heart! Oh, open the door, my ain true love! An' mind the words that you and I spak By the well o' the woods o' Wearie O! Oh, gi'e me my castock,[44] my hinnie, my heart, Oh, gi'e me my castock, my ain true love, An' mind the words that you and I spak' By the well o' the woods o' Wearie O! Oh, gi'e me my kail, my hinnie, my heart, Oh, gi'e me my kail, my ain true love! An' mind the words that you and I spak' At the well in the woods o' Wearie. Oh, gi'e me your hand, my hinnie, my heart, Oh, gi'e me your hand, my ain true love, An' mind the words that you and I spak' By the well in the woods o' Wearie. Oh, wae to ye now, my hinnie, my heart, Oh, wae to ye now, my wise fause love; Ye've broken the words ye gi'ed to me At the well in the woods o' Wearie!
There is a very pretty old tune to "The Paddo's Sang."