  IShe lean’d her back unto a thorn; Fine flowers in the valley And there she has her two babes born, And the green leaves they grow rarely. IIShe’s ta’en the ribbon frae her hair, And bound their bodies fast and sair. III‘Smile na sae sweet, my bonny babes, An’ ye smile sae sweet, ye’ll smile me dead. IV‘And, O bonny babes, if ye suck sair, Ye’ll never suck by my side mair.’ VShe’s ta’en out her little penknife And twinn’d VIShe’s howket a grave baith deep and wide, And there she’s buried them side by side. VIIShe’s buried them baith beneath the brier, And washed her hands wi’ mony a tear. VIII‘O ay, my God, as I look to thee, My babes be atween my God and me! IX‘And ay their smiles wad win me in, But I am borne down by deadly sin.’ XShe’s cover’d them o’er wi’ a marble stane, Thinking she wad gang maiden hame. XIShe lookit out owre her castle wa’ And saw twa naked boys play at the ba’. XIIXIII‘O I would dress you in the silk, And wash you ay in morning milk.’— XIV‘O mother dear, when we were thine, You didna prove to us sae kind. XV‘O cruel mother, we were thine And thou made us to wear the twine XVI‘But now we’re in the heavens hie, Fine flowers in the valley And ye have the pains o’ hell to drie’— And the green leaves they grow rarely; Ten thousand times good night and be wi’ thee! FOOTNOTES: |
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