Book of Old English Ballads, A

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"></SPAN></p> <h2> Young Waters </h2> <p>About Yule, when the wind blew cool;<br/> And the round tables began,<br/> A' there is come to our king's court<br/> Mony a well-favoured man.<br/> <br/> The queen looked o'er the castle wa',<br/> Beheld baith dale and down,<br/> And then she saw young Waters<br/> Come riding to the town.<br/> <br/> His footmen they did rin before,<br/> His horsemen rade behind;<br/> Ane mantle of the burning gowd<br/> Did keep him frae the wind.<br/> <br/> Gowden graith'd[FN#1] his horse before,<br/> And siller shod behind;<br/> The horse young Waters rade upon<br/> Was fleeter than the wind.<br/></p> <p>[FN#1] Graitih'd, girthed.<br/></p> <p>Out then spake a wily lord,<br/> Unto the queen said he:<br/> "O tell me wha's the fairest face<br/> Rides in the company?"<br/> <br/> "I've seen lord, and I've seen laird,<br/> And knights of high degree,<br/> But a fairer face than young Waters<br/> Mine eyen did never see."<br/> <br/> Out then spake the jealous king<br/> And an angry man was he:<br/> "O if he had been twice as fair,<br/> You might have excepted me."<br/> <br/> "You're neither laird nor lord," she says,<br/> "But the king that wears the crown;<br/> There is not a knight in fair Scotland,<br/> But to thee maun bow down."<br/> <br/> For a' that she could do or say,<br/> Appeased he wad nae be;<br/> But for the words which she had said,<br/> Young Waters he maun dee.<br/> <br/> They hae ta'en young Waters,<br/> And put fetters to his feet;<br/> They hae ta'en young Waters,<br/> And thrown him in dungeon deep.<br/> <br/> "Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town,<br/> In the wind but and the weet;<br/> But I ne'er rade thro' Stirling town<br/> Wi' fetters at my feet.<br/> <br/> "Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town,<br/> In the wind but and the rain;<br/> But I ne'er rade thro' Stirling town<br/> Ne'er to return again."<br/> <br/> They hae ta'en to the heading-hill<br/> His young son in his cradle;<br/> And they hae ta'en to the heading-hill<br/> His horse but and his saddle.<br/> <br/> They hae ta'en to the heading-hill<br/> His lady fair to see;<br/> And for the words the queen had spoke<br/> Young Waters he did dee.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />