"I've sene lord, and I've sene laird,
And knights of high degree;
Bot a fairer face thanzoung Waters,
Mine eyne did never see."
Out then spack the jealous king,
(And an angry man was he)
"O, if he had been twice as fair,
zou micht have excepted me."
"zou're neither laird nor lord," she says,
"But the king that wears the crown;
Theris not a knight in fair Scotland
Bot to thee maun bow down."
For a' that she could do or say,
Appeasd he wad nae bee;
Bot for the words which she had said
zoung Waters he maun dee.
They hae taenzoung Waters, and
Put fetters to his feet;
They hae taenzoung Waters,
And thrown him in dungeon deep.
"Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town
In the wind both and the weit;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Wi fetters at my feet.
"Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town
In the wind both and the rain;
Bat I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Neir to return again."
They hae taen to the heiding-hill,[2]
Hiszoung son in his craddle,
And they hae taen to the heiding-hill,
His horse both and his saddle.
They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His lady fair to see.
And for the words the Queene had spoke
zoung Waters he did dee.
NOTES
- This extract is copied from the Critical Review.
2.Heiding-hill, i.e. heading [beheading] hill. The place of execution was anciently an
artificial hillock.