Part 32

“I ken no by your red rose lip, Nor by your yallow hair; Nor ken I by your milk-white breast, For I never saw it bare; But, come to your bowr whaever sae likes, Will find a ladye there.”

“Oh, gin ye come to my bowr within, Thro fraud, deceit, or guile, Wi this same bran that’s in my han I swear I will thee kill.”

“But I will come thy bowr within, An spear nae leave,” quoth he; “An this same bran that’s i my ban, I sall ware back on the.”

About the tenth hour of the night, The ladie’s bowr door was broken, An eer the first hour of the day The bonny knave bairn was gotten.

When days were gane and months were run, The ladye took travailing, And sair she cry’d for a bow’r-woman, For to wait her upon.

Then out it spake him, Brown Robin: “Now what needs a’ this din? For what coud any woman do But I coud do the same?”

“Twas never my mither’s fashion,” she says, “Nor sall it ever be mine, That belted knights shoud eer remain Where ladies dreed their pine.

“But ye take up that bugle-horn, An blaw a blast for me; I ha a brother i the kingis court Will come me quickly ti.”

“O gin ye ha a brither on earth That ye love better nor me, Ye blaw the horn yoursel,” he says, “For ae blast I winna gie.”

She’s set the horn till her mouth, And she’s blawn three blasts sae shrill; Sweet Willy heard i the kingis court, And came her quickly till.

Then up it started Brown Robin, An an angry man was he: “There comes nae man this bowr within But first must fight wi me.”

O they hae fought that bowr within Till the sun was gaing down, Till drops o blude frae Rose the Red Cam trailing to the groun.

She leand her back against the wa, Says, “Robin, let a’ be; For it is a lady born and bred That’s foughten sae well wi thee.”

O seven foot he lap a back; Says, “Alas, and wae is me! I never wisht in a’ my life, A woman’s blude to see; An ae for the sake of ae fair maid Whose name was White Lilly.”

Then out it spake her White Lilly, An a hearty laugh laugh she: “She’s lived wi you this year an mair, Tho ye kenntna it was she.”

Now word has gane thro a’ the lan, Before a month was done, That Brown Robin’s man, in good green wood, Had born a bonny young son.

The word has gane to the kingis court, An to the king himsel; “Now, by my fay,” the king could say, “The like was never heard tell!”

Then out it spake him Bold Arthur, An a hearty laugh laugh he: “I trow some may has playd the loun, And fled her ain country.”

“Bring me my steed,” then cry’d the king, “My bow and arrows keen; I’ll ride mysel to good green wood, An see what’s to be seen.”

“An’t please your grace,” said Bold Arthur, “My liege, I’ll gang you wi, An try to fin a little foot-page, That’s strayd awa frae me.”

O they’ve hunted i the good green wood The buck but an the rae, An they drew near Brown Robin’s bowr, About the close of day.

Then out it spake the king in hast, Says, “Arthur look an see Gin that be no your little foot-page That leans against yon tree.”

Then Arthur took his bugle-horn, An blew a blast sae shrill; Sweet Willy started at the sound, An ran him quickly till.

“O wanted ye your meat, Willy? Or wanted ye your fee? Or gat ye ever an angry word, That ye ran awa frae me?”

“I wanted nought, my master dear; To me ye ay was good; I came but to see my ae brother, That wons in this green wood.”

Then out it spake the king again, Says, “Bonny boy, tell to me, Wha lives into yon bigly bowr, Stands by yon green oak tree?”

“Oh, pardon me,” says Sweet Willie, “My liege, I dare no tell; An I pray you go no near that bowr, For fear they do you fell.”

“Oh, haud your tongue, my bonny boy, For I winna be said nay; But I will gang that bowr within, Betide me weal or wae.”