And she has open’d the prison doors: I wot she open’d twa or three Ere she could come Young Beichan at, He was lock’d up so curiouslie.
‘O hae ye any lands or rents, Or cities in your own countrie, Cou’d free you out of prison strong And cou’d maintain a lady free?’--
‘O London city is my own, And other cities twa or three; I’ll give them all to the lady fair That out of prison will set me free.’
O she has bribed her father’s men Wi’ mickle gold and white monie, She’s gotten the keys of the prison strong, And she has set Young Beichan free.
She’s fed him upon the good spice-cake, The Spanish wine and the malvoisie; She’s broken a ring from off her finger And to Beichan half of it gave she.
‘Go set your foot on good shipboard, And haste you back to your own countrie, But before that seven years has an end, Come back again, love, and marry me.’
It was long or seven years had an end She long’d full sore her love to see; So she’s set her foot on good ship-board And turn’d her back on her own countrie.
She’s sailèd east, she’s sailèd west, She’s sailèd all across the sea, And when she came to fair England The bells were ringing merrilie.
‘O whose are a’ yon flock o’ sheep? And whose are a’ yon flock o’ kye[328]? And whose are a’ yon pretty castles, That I so often do pass by?’
‘O they are a’ Lord Beichan’s sheep, And they are a’ Lord Beichan’s kye, And they are a’ Lord Beichan’s castles That you so often do pass by.
‘O there’s a wedding in yonder ha’, Has lasted thirty days and three; Lord Beichan will not bed wi’ his bride For love of one that’s ’yond the sea.’
When she came to Young Beichan’s gate She tirlèd[329] softly at the pin; So ready was the proud portèr To open and let this lady in.
‘Is this Young Beichan’s gates?’ she says, ‘Or is that noble lord within?’-- ‘He’s up the stairs wi’ his bonny bride, For this is the day o’ his weddin’.’--
‘O has he taken a bonny bride, And has he clean forgotten me?’ And sighing said that ladye gay, ‘I wish I were in my own countrie!’
She’s putten her hand in her pockèt And gi’en the porter guineas three; Says, ‘Take ye that, ye proud portèr, And bid the bridegroom speak with me.’
And she has ta’en her gay gold ring, That with her love she brake so free; Says, ‘Gie him that, ye proud portèr, And bid the bridegroom speak with me.’