Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/600

 LADY ANNE LINDSAY

Young Jamie lo'ed me weel, and sought me for his bride; But saving a croun he had naething else beside: To make the croun a pund, young Jamie gaed to sea; And the croun and the pund were baith for me.

He hadna been awa' a week but only twa, When my father brak his arm, and the cow was stown awn', My mother she fell sick, and my Jamie at the sea And auld Robin Gray came a-courtin' me.

My father couldna work, and my mother couldna spin , I toil'd day and night, but their bread 1 couldna win , Auld Rob maintain'd them baith, and wi' tears in his c'e Said, 'Jennie, for their sakes, O, marry me 1 '

My heart it said nay; I look'd for Jamie back; But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wrack, Or why do I live to cry, Wac 's me '

My father urged me sair my mother didna speak, But she look'd in my face till my heart was like to break: They gi'ed him my hand, tho* my heart was in the sea, Sae auld Robin Gray he was gudeman to me.

I hadna been a wife a week but only four, When mournf u j as I sat on the stane at the door, I saw my Jamie's wraith, for I couldna think it he, Till he said, Tm come hame to marry thee.'

sair, sair did we greet, and muckle did we say; We took but ae kiss, and we tore ourselves away:

1 wibh that I were dead, but Pm no like to dee; And why was I born to say, Wae 's me'

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