Page:Posthumous poems (IA posthumousswinb00swin).pdf/103

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THE EARL OF MAR'S DAUGHTER
 
Then he's dwelt in her bower-chamber
Fu' sax lang years and ane,
And seven fair sons she's borne to him,
Fairer was there never nane.

The first bairn she's borne to him
He's tane him ower the sea;
He's gien it to his auld mither,
Bade well nourished it should be.

The seventh bairn she's borne to him,
He's tane him frae his make;
He's gien it to his auld mither,
Bade nourice it for his sake.

And he's dwelt in her bower-chamber
Fu' six years thro' and three,
Till there is comen an auld grey knight
Her wed-lord for to be;
She had nae will to his gowden gifts
Nor wad she to his fee

*****

Out then spak the bonny bird,
He heard what they did say;
Says: "Wae's be to you, ye auld grey man,
For it's time I were away."

Then Coo-me-doo took flight and flew
He flew out ower the sea;
He's lighted by his mither's castle-ha'
On a tower of gold fu' hie.

*****

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