Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Scottish ballads

289
But you seem to be some cunning hunter,
You wear the horn so syde."*
" I am no cunning hunter," he said,
" Nor e'er intend to be ;
But I am come to this castle,
To seek the love of thee ;
And if you do not grant me love,
This nicht for thee I'll die."
" If you should die for me, sir knicht,
There's few for you will maene ;
For mony a better has died for me.
Whose graves are growing green.
But ye maun read my riddle," she said,
" And answer me questions three ;
And but ye read them richt," she said,
" Gae stretch ye out and die.
What is the flouir, the ae first flouir.
That springs on muir or dale ?
And what is the bird, the bonnie bird.
Sings on the evening gale ?"
" The primrose is the ae first flouir,'
That springs on muir or dale ;
And the thistlecock is the bonniest bird,
Sings on the evening gale."
" But what is the little coin," she said,
" Wad buy my castle bound ?
And what's the little boat," she said,
" Can sail the world all round ?"
* Long, or low.
2b