BURD MARGARET
"O weel be to the fair red roses
Stood high against my chin;
But ill be to the good green leaves,
For they were half the sin.
Stood high against my chin;
But ill be to the good green leaves,
For they were half the sin.
"O weel be to the little bird
Sang low against my knee;
But ill be to my fause nourice,
She had sma' reck of me.
Sang low against my knee;
But ill be to my fause nourice,
She had sma' reck of me.
"O weel be to the fair red roses
Stood high against my face;
But ill be to the bonny rowan,
I wish it never grace."
Stood high against my face;
But ill be to the bonny rowan,
I wish it never grace."
Burd Margaret lay in the rank water-grass
By the fairest ford in Tyne;
And between the grass and the aspen leaf,
She saw their armour shine.
By the fairest ford in Tyne;
And between the grass and the aspen leaf,
She saw their armour shine.
The first of them had fair Milan coats,
The second had but pikes and jacks;
The third had coats of fair scarlet,
And gold across their caps.
The second had but pikes and jacks;
The third had coats of fair scarlet,
And gold across their caps.
There were three and three wi' bits of steel,
And three and three wi' siller fine,
And three and three wi' bits of gold,
Was red as fair new wine.
And three and three wi' siller fine,
And three and three wi' bits of gold,
Was red as fair new wine.
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