The English and Scottish Popular Ballads/Part 9/Chapter 297

"O EARL Rothes, an thou wert mine, And I were to be thy ladie, I wad drink at the beer, and tipple at the wine, And be my bottle with any."

"Hold thy tongue, sister Ann," he says, "Thy words they are too many; What wad ye do wi sae noble a lord, When he has so noble a ladie?

"O I'll pay you your tocher, Lady Ann, Both in gear and money, If ye'll forsake Earl Rothes's companie, And mind that he has a ladie."

"I do not value your gold," she says, "Your gear it's no sae readie; I'll neer forsake Earl Rothes's companie, And I don't gie a fig for his ladie."

"I'll keep ye i the castle, Lady Ann, O servants ye shall hae monie; I'll keep ye till ye're safely brocht to bed, And I'll mak you a marquis's ladie."

"I do not value your castle," she says, "Your servants are no sae readie; Earl Rothes will keep me till I'm brocht to bed, And he'll mak me a marquis's ladie."

"Woe be to thee, Earl Rothes," he says, "And the mark o the judge be upon thee, For the using o this poor thing sae, For the using my sister so badly.

"When I'm come to the years of a man, And able a sword to carry, I'll thrust it thro Earl Rothes' bodie For the using my sister sae basely.

"Fare thee well, Lady Ann," he says, "No longer will I tarry; You and I will never meet again, Till we meet at the bonny town o Torry."