| |
I
O WHA would wish the wind to blau | |
| Or the green leaves fa’ therewith? | |
| Or wha would wish a lealer love | |
| Than Brown Adam the Smith? | |
| |
II
But they hae banish’d Brown Adam, | 5 |
| Frae father and frae mither; | |
| And they hae banish’d Brown Adam, | |
| Frae sister and frae brither. | |
| |
III
And they hae banish’d Brown Adam | |
| Frae the flow’r o’ a’ his kin; | 10 |
| And he’s biggit a bow’r i’ the good green-wood | |
| Between his ladye and him. | |
| |
IV
O it fell once upon a day | |
| Brown Adam he thought long, | |
| And he is to the green-wood | 15 |
| As fast as he could gang. | |
| |
V
He has ta’en his bow his arm over, | |
| His sword intill his han’, | |
| And he is to the good green-wood | |
| To hunt some venison. | 20 |
| |
VI
O he’s shot up, and he’s shot down | |
| The bunting on the breer; | |
| And he’s sent it hame to his ladye, | |
| Bade her be of good cheer. | |
| |
VII
O he’s shot up, and he’s shot down, | 25 |
| The linnet on the thorn, | |
| And sent it hame to his ladye, | |
| Said he’d be hame the morn. | |
| |
VIII
When he cam’ till his lady’s bow’r-door | |
| He stood a little forbye, | 30 |
| And there he heard a fu’ fause knight | |
| Tempting his gay ladye. | |
| |
IX
O he’s ta’en out a gay gold ring | |
| Had cost him mony a poun’; | |
| ‘O grant me love for love, ladye, | 35 |
| And this sall be your own.’— | |
| |
X
‘I lo’e Brown Adam well,’ she says, | |
| ‘I wot sae does he me; | |
| I wadna gie Brown Adam’s love | |
| For nae fause knight I see.’ | 40 |
| |
XI
Out he has ta’en a purse of gold | |
| Was a’ fu’ to the string; | |
| ‘O grant me love for love, ladye, | |
| And a’ this sall be thine.’— | |
| |
XII
‘I lo’e Brown Adam well,’ she says, | 45 |
| An’ I ken sae does he me; | |
| An’ I wadna be your light leman | |
| For mair nor ye could gie.’ | |
| |
XIII
Then out he drew his lang, lang bran’, | |
| And he’s flash’d it in her e’en: | 50 |
| ‘Now grant me love for love, lady, | |
| Or thro’ you this sall gang.’— | |
| |
XIV
‘O,’ sighing said that gay ladye, | |
| ‘Brown Adam tarries lang!’— | |
| Then up and starts him Brown Adam, | 55 |
| Says, ‘I’am just to your hand.’ | |
| |
XV
He’s gar’d him leave his bow, his bow, | |
| He’s gar’d him leave his brand; | |
| He’s gar’d him leave a better pledge— | |
| Four fingers o’ his right hand. | 60 |
| | | GLOSS: biggit] built, breer] briar. |
|
| |
