“The cock doth craw, the day doth daw The channerin’ worm doth chide; Gin we be mist out o’ our place, A sair pain we maun bide.
“Fare ye weel, my mother dear! Fareweel to barn and byre! And fare ye weel, the bonny lass, That kindles my mother’s fire.”
Whan he cam to his ain luve’s bouir, He tirled at the pin; And sae ready was his fair fause luve To rise and let him in.
“Oh! welcome, welcome, Sir Roland,” she says, “Thrice welcome thou art to me; For this night thou wilt feast in my secret bouir And to-morrow we’ll wedded be.”
“This night is Hallow Eve,” he said, “And to-morrow is Hallow-day; And I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen, That has made my heart fu’ wae.
“I dreamed a drearie dream yestreen, And I wish it may come to gude; I dreamed that ye slew my best grew hound, And gied me his lappered blude.”
“Unbuckle your belt, Sir Roland,” she said, “And set you safely down.” “Oh! your chamber is very dark, fair maid, And the night is wondrous lown.”
“Yes, dark dark is my secret bowir, And lown the midnight may be; For there is none waking in a’ this tower But thou, my true love, and me.”
She has mounted on her true love’s steed, By the ae light o’ the moon; She has whipped him and spurred him, And roundly she rade frae the toun.
She hadna ridden a mile o’ gate, Never a mile but ane, Whan she was aware of a tall young man, Slow riding o’er the plain.
She turned her to the right about, Then to the left turned she; But aye ’tween her and the wan moonlight That tall Knight did she see.
And he was riding burd alane, On a horse as black as jet; But tho’ she followed him fast and fell, No nearer could she get.
“Oh stop! Oh stop! young man,” she said; “For I in dule am dight; Oh stop, and win a fair lady’s luve, If you be a leal true Knight.”
But nothing did the tall Knight say, And nothing did he blin; Still slowly rode he on before And fast she rade behind.
She whipped her steed, she spurred her steed, Till his breast was all a foam; But nearer unto that tall young Knight, The Lady, she could not come.
“Oh, if you be a gay young Knight, As well I trow you be, Pull tight your bridle reins, and stay Till I come up to thee.”
But nothing did that tall Knight say, And no whit did he blin, Until he reached a broad river’s side And there he drew his rein.