William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.
Lord DonaldAnonymous
O
O where hae ye been a’ day, my jollie young man?’
‘I’ve been awa’ courtin’: mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What wad ye hae for your supper, my jollie young man?’
‘I’ve gotten my supper; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What did ye get to your supper, my jollie young man?’
‘A dish of sma’ fishes; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
Whare gat ye the fishes, my jollie young man?’
‘In my father’s black ditches; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What like were your fishes, my jollie young man?’
‘Black backs and speckl’d bellies; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
O I fear ye are poison’d, my jollie young man!’
‘O yes! I am poison’d; mither mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What will ye leave to your father, my jollie young man?’
‘Baith my houses and land; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What will ye leave to your brither, my jollie young man?’
‘My horse and the saddle; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What will ye leave to your sister, my jollie young man?’
‘Baith my gold box and rings; mither, mak my bed sune,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie doun.’
What will ye leave to your true-love, my jollie young man?’
‘The tow and the halter, for to hang on yon tree,
And lat her hang there for the poysoning o’ me.’