Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Part 9

17.

'I'll shoot the buntin' o' the bush, The linnet o' the tree, And bring them to my dear mither, See if she'll merrier be.'

18.

It fell upo' another day, This guid lord he thought lang, And he is to the hunting gane, Took wi' him his dog and gun.

19.

Wi' bow and arrow by his side, He's aff, single, alane, And left his seven children to stay Wi' their mither at hame.

20.

'O I will tell to you, mither, Gin ye wadna angry be:'

'Speak on, speak on, my little wee boy, Ye'se nae be quarrell'd by me.'

21.

'As we came frae the hynd-hunting, We heard fine music ring:'

'My blessings on you, my bonny boy, I wish I'd been there my lane.'

22.

He's ta'en his mither by the hand, His six brithers also, And they are on thro' Elmond's wood As fast as they coud go.

23.

They wistna weel where they were gaen, Wi' the stratlins o' their feet; They wistna weel where they were gaen, Till at her father's yate.

24.

'I hae nae money in my pocket, But royal rings hae three; I'll gie them you, my little young son, And ye'll walk there for me.

25.

'Ye'll gie the first to the proud porter, And he will lat you in; Ye'll gie the next to the butler-boy, And he will show you ben.

26.

'Ye'll gie the third to the minstrel That plays before the King; He'll play success to the bonny boy Came thro' the wood him lane.'

27.

He ga'e the first to the proud porter, And he open'd an' let him in; He ga'e the next to the butler-boy, And he has shown him ben;

28.

He ga'e the third to the minstrel That play'd before the King; And he play'd success to the bonny boy Came thro' the wood him lane.

29.

Now when he came before the King, Fell low down on his knee; The King he turned round about, And the saut tear blinded his e'e.

30.

'Win up, win up, my bonny boy, Gang frae my companie; Ye look sae like my dear daughter, My heart will birst in three.'

31.

'If I look like your dear daughter, A wonder it is none; If I look like your dear daughter, I am her eldest son.'

32.

'Will ye tell me, ye little wee boy, Where may my Margaret be?'

'She's just now standing at your yates, And my six brithers her wi'.'

33.

'O where are all my porter-boys That I pay meat and fee, To open my yates baith wide and braid?

Let her come in to me.'

34.

When she came in before the King, Fell low down on her knee; 'Win up, win up, my daughter dear, This day ye'll dine wi' me.'

35.

'Ae bit I canno eat, father, Nor ae drop can I drink, Till I see my mither and sister dear, For lang for them I think!'

36.

When she came before the queen, Fell low down on her knee; 'Win up, win up, my daughter dear, This day ye'se dine wi' me.'

37.

'Ae bit I canno eat, mither, Nor ae drop can I drink, Until I see my dear sister, For lang for her I think.'

38.

When that these two sisters met, She hail'd her courteouslie; 'Come ben, come ben, my sister dear, This day ye'se dine wi' me.'

39.

'Ae bit I canno eat, sister, Nor ae drop can I drink, Until I see my dear husband, For lang for him I think.'

40.

'O where are all my rangers bold That I pay meat and fee, To search the forest far an' wide, And bring Akin to me?'

41.

Out it speaks the little wee boy: 'Na, na, this maunna be; Without ye grant a free pardon, I hope ye'll nae him see!'

42.

'O here I grant a free pardon, Well seal'd by my own han'; Ye may make search for Young Akin, As soon as ever you can.'

43.

They search'd the country wide and braid, The forests far and near, And found him into Elmond's wood, Tearing his yellow hair.

44.

'Win up, win up now, Young Akin, Win up and boun wi' me; We're messengers come from the court, The king wants you to see.'

45.

'O lat him take frae me my head, Or hang me on a tree; For since I've lost my dear lady, Life's no pleasure to me.'

46.

'Your head will nae be touch'd, Akin, Nor hang'd upon a tree; Your lady's in her father's court, And all he wants is thee.'

47.

When he came in before the King, Fell low down on his knee: 'Win up, win up now, Young Akin, This day ye'se dine wi' me.'

48.

But as they were at dinner set, The boy asked a boun: 'I wish we were in the good church, For to get christendoun.