297. Earl Rothes

297a: Earl Rothes

297a.1 O Earl Rothes, an thou wert mine,
And I were to be thy ladie,
I wad drink at the beer, and tipple at the wine,
And be my bottle with any.
297A.2 Hold thy tongue, sister Ann, he says,
Thy words they are too many;
What wad ye do wi sae noble a lord,
When he has so noble a ladie?
297a.3 O Ill pay you your tocher, Lady Ann,
Both in gear and money,
If yell forsake Earl Rothess companie,
And mind that he has a ladie.
297a.4 I do not value your gold, she says,
Your gear its no sae readie;
Ill neer forsake Earl Rothess companie,
And I dont gie a fig for his ladie.
297A.5 Ill keep ye i the caslte, Lady Ann,
O servants ye shall hae monie;
Ill keep ye till yere safely brocht to bed,
And Ill mak you a marquiss ladie.
297a.6 I do not value your castle, she says,
Your servants are no sae readie;
Earl Rothes will keep me till Im brocht to bed,
And hell mak me a marquiss ladie.
297A.7 Woe be to thee, Earl Rothes, he says,
And the mark o the judge be upon thee,
For the using o this poor thing sae,
For the using my sister so badly.
297A.8 When Im come to the years of a man,
And able a sword to carry,
Ill thrust it thro Earl Rothes bodie
For the using my sister sae basely.
297A.9 Fare thee well, Lady Ann, he says,
No longer will I tarry;
You and I will never meet again,
Till we meet at the bonny town o Torry.