Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/454

 ANONYMOUS xx

She hadna pu'd a leaf, a leaf,

A leaf but only twae, When up and started young Tarn Lin,

Says, 'Lady, thou 's pu' nae mae.

��'How dar' ye pu' a leaf' he says,
 * How dar' ye break the tree ?

How dar' ye scathe my babe,' he says, 'That 's between you and me? '

XXII

'O tell me, tell me, Tarn,' she says, 'For His sake that died on tree,

If ye were ever in holy chapel Or sain'd in Christentie? '

XXIII

'The truth I'll tell to thee, Janet,

Ae word 1 winna lee, A knight me got, and a lady me bore,

As well as they did thee.

XXIV

'Roxburgh he was my grandfather, Took me with him to bide;

And ance it fell upon a day, As hunting I did ride,

scathe] harm. sain'd] blessed, baptized.

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