Page:Young Gregor's ghost (NLS104184752).pdf/8

8 "Now speak nae mair my lusty dame,

Now speak nae mair of that to me;

Did I ne er see a fair woman,

But I wad sin with her fair body?”

He's ta'en leave o his gay lady,

Nought minding what his lady said;

And he's rode by the wells of Slane,

Where washing was a bonny maid.

"Wash on, wash on, my bonny maid,

That wash sae clean your sark of silk;"

"And weel fa' you, fair gentleman,

Your body's whiter than the milk,"

Then loud, loud cried the Clerk Colvill,

O my head it pains me sair;

"Then take, then take," the maiden-said,

"And frae' my sark you'll cut a gare."

Then she's gi’ed him a little bane-knife,

And frae his sark he cut a share;

She's ty'd it round his hey-white face,

But ay his head it aked mair.

Then louder cried the Clerk Colvill,

" O sairer, sairer akes my head,"

"And sairer, sairer ever will,"

The maiden cries, "'till you be dead."

Out then he drew his shining blade,

Thinking to stick her where she stood:

But she was Vanish'd to a fish,

And swam far off a fair mermaid.

"O mother, mother, braid my hair;

My lusty lady, make my bed;

O brother take my sword and spear,

For I have seen the false mermaid."