Page:Heir of Linne, an old ballad.pdf/8

 'Thou'lt get it cheaper back again,

'a hundred merks than it cost me.

'I take you witness, Lords,' he said;

'with that he gave a god's pennie;

'Now by my say' said the Heir of Linne,

'and here, good John, is thy monie.'

Then he pull'd forth three bags of gold,

and laid them down upon the board;

All woe begone was John o' th' Scales,

so vext he could not say a word.

He told him forth the good red gold,

he told it sooth with little

"The gold is thine, the land is mine,

"now I'm again the Lord of Linne."

Says, 'have thou here, thou good fellow,

'the forty pence thou lent to me;

'Now I'm again the Lord of Linne,

'and forty pounds I will give thee.'

'Now well-a-day,' said Joan o' the' Scales,

'now well-a-day! and woe's my life!

'Yesterday I was Lady of Linne,

'now I'm but John o' th' Scales wife.'

'Now fare thee well' said the Heir of Linne,

'farewell, good John o' th' Scales,' said he,

'When next I want to sell my land,

'good John o' th' Scales I'll come to thee.'