J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border

326 MINSTRELSY OF THE SCOTTISH BORDER.
They douked in at ae weil-head,*
And out ay at the other ;
" We can douk nae mair for Erl Richard,
Although he were our brother."
It fell that, in that ladye's castle,
The king was boun to bed ;
And up and spake the popinjay,
That flew abune his head.
" Leave off your douking on the day.
And douk upon the night ;
And where that sackless -f knight lies slain,
The candles Avill bum bright."
" O there''s a bird within this bower.
That sings baith sad and sweet ;
O there's a bird within your bower.
Keeps me frae my night's sleep."
They left the douking on the day,
And douked upon the night ;
And, where that sackless knight lay slain,
The candles burned bright.
The deepest pot in a' the linn.
They fand Erl Richard in ;
A grene turf tyed across his breast.
To keep that gude lord down.
Then up and spake the king himsell,
"When he saw the deadly wound —
" wha has slain my right-hand man.
That held my hawk and hound?"
Then up and spake the popinjay.
Says — " What needs a' this din ?
It was his light leman took his life.
And hided him in the linn."
She swore her by the grass sae grene,
Sae did she by the corn.
She had na seen him, Erl Richard,
Since Moninday at morn.
"■' Put na the witc on me,'' she said ;
It was my may Catherine."
Then they hae cut baith fern and thorn.
To burn that maiden in.
* Eddy. t Guiltless.