Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 2^
Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee. 10
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee :
O rede, O rede, mither, he fays,
A gude rede gie to mee :
O fall I tak the nat-browne bride, jc
And let faire Annet bee ?
The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear,
Fair Annet me has gat nane
And the little beauty fair Annet hae?,
O it wull foon be gane ! 2»
And he has till his brother gane :
Now brother rede ye mee ;
A' fall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And let fair Annet bee ?
The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother, 25
The nut-browne bride has kye
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And call fair Annet bye.
Ker oxen may dye i' the houfe, Billie,
And her kye into the byre
And I fall hae nothing to my fell,
Bot a fat fadge by the fyre.
Yol. III. R Ard
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