Poem by Anonymous

Young Waters

ABOUT Zule quhen the wind blew cule,
  And the round tables began,
Ah! there is cum to our king’s court
  Mony a well-favor’d man.

The queen luikit owre the castle wa’,
  Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw young Waters
  Cum riding to the town.

His footmen they did rin before,
  His horsemen rade behind,
And mantel of the burning gowd
  Did keep him frae the wind.

Gowden graith’d his horse before,
  And siller shod behind;
The horse young Waters rade upon
  Was fleeter than the wind.

Out then spak a wylie lord,
  Unto the queen said he:
“O tell me quha ’s the fairest face
  Rides in the company?”

“I ’ve sene lord, and I ’ve seen laird,
  And knights of high degree,
But a fairer face than young Waters’
  Mine eyne did never see.”

Out then spak the jealous king
  (And an angry man was he):
“O, if he had been twice as fair,
  You micht have excepted me.”

“You ’re neither laird nor lord,” she says,
  “But the king that wears the crown;
There ’s not a knight in fair Scotland,
  But to thee maun bow down.”

For a’ that she could do or say,
  Appeased he wadna be;
But for the words which she had said
  Young Waters he maun die.

They hae ta’en young Waters, and
  Put fetters to his feet;
They hae ta’en young Waters, and
  Thrown him in dungeon deep.

Aft I have ridden thro’ Stirling town,
  In the wind bot and the weit;
But I ne’er rade thro’ Stirling town
  Wi’ fetters at my feet.

Aft I have ridden thro’ Stirling town,
  In the wind bot and the rain;
But I ne’er rode thro’ Stirling town
  Ne’er to return again.

They hae ta’en to the heiding hill
  His young son in his cradle;
And they hae ta’en to the heiding hill
  His horse bot and the saddle.

They hae ta’en to the heiding hill
  His lady fair to see;
And for the words the queen had spoke
  Young Waters he did die.

1. Now, Robin, Lend to Me Thy Bow
2. Willy Drowned in Yarrow
3. The Guard-Chamber
4. The Cave of Pope
5. The Hermitage

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