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I
IT fell upon a Wadensday | |
| Brown Robyn’s men went to sea; | |
| But they saw neither moon nor sun | |
| Nor starlight wi’ their e’e. | |
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II
‘We’ll cast kevels us amang; | 5 |
| See wha the man may be.’— | |
| The kevel fell on Brown Robyn, | |
| The master-man was he. | |
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III
‘It is nae wonder,’ said Brown Robyn, | |
| ‘Altho’ I dinna thrive; | 10 |
| [For at hame I murder’d my ain father— | |
| I would he were on live.] | |
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IV
‘But tie me to a plank o’ wude, | |
| And throw me in the sea; | |
| And if I sink, ye may bid me sink, | 15 |
| But if I swim, let be.’ | |
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V
They’ve tied him to a plank o’ wude | |
| And thrown him in the sea; | |
| He didna sink, tho’ they bade him sink, | |
| He swim’d, and they bade let be. | 20 |
| |
VI
He hadna been into the sea | |
| An hour but barely three, | |
| Till by it came Our Blessed Ladie | |
| Her dear young son her wi’. | |
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VII
‘Will ye gang to your men again, | 25 |
| ‘Or will ye gang wi’ me? | |
| Will ye gang to the high heavens | |
| Wi’ my dear son and me?’— | |
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VIII
‘I winna gang to my men again, | |
| For they would be fear’d at me; | 30 |
| But I would gang to the high heavens, | |
| Wi’ thy dear son and thee.’ | |
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IX
‘It’s for nae honour ye did, Brown Robyn, | |
| It’s for nae gude ye did to me; | |
| But a’ is for your fair confession | 35 |
| You’ve made upon the sea.’ | |
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