The Scottish ballads - National Library of Scotland

271
; ! ;
1 wad hae ye to mairy the nut-brown bride,
And set fair Annie bye."
« Her owsen micht die in the fields, billie,*
Her kye into the byre ;
And I hae naething left me, syne,
But a fat fadget by the fire !
Her owsen micht na die in the fields, billie.
Nor her kye into the byre ;
But what's this warld's wealth to me,
An I get na my heart's desyre !"
Syne he has to his sister gane ;
" Now, sister, rede ye me I
O sail I marry the nut-brown bride,
And set fair Annie free ?"
" I rede ye tak fair Annie, billie^
And let the brown bride alane
Lest ye should sigh and say, Alas
What is this we broucht hame ?"
" No, I will tak my mother's advice,
And my brother's, out o' hand ;|
And I will tak the nut-brown bride
Fair Annie may leive the land/'
Up then rose fair Annie's father,
Twa hours oit it was day.
And he is gane into the bouir
Wherin fair Annie lay.
*' Rise up, rise up, fair Annie," he says ;
" Put on your silken sheene ;
* Brother. t A large clumsy woman, :t: Immediately.