  I‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low, And a cow low down in yon glen: Lang, lang will my young son greet Or his mither bid him come ben II‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low, And a cow low down in yon fauld: Lang, lang will my young son greet Or his mither take him frae cauld!’ III[The Queen of Elfan’s nourice She sits and sings her lane] ‘Waken, Queen of Elfan And hear your nourice moan.’— IV‘O moan ye for your meat, Or moan ye for your fee, Or moan ye for the ither bounties That ladies are wont to gie?’— V‘I moan na for my meat, Nor moan I for my fee, Nor moan I for the ither bounties That ladies are wont to gie. VI[‘But I heard a bonnie cow Low down in yonder fauld] And I moan for my young son I left in four nights auld. VII‘I moan na for my meat, Nor yet for my fee; But I moan for Christen land; It’s there I fain would be.’ VIII‘O nurse my bairn, nourice, Till he stan’ at your knee, An ye’s win hame to Christen land Whar fain it’s ye wad be. IX‘O keep my bairn, nourice, Till he gang by the hauld An ye’s win hame to your young son Ye left in four nights auld. X‘O nourice lay your head [Here] upo’ my knee: See ye not that narrow road Up by yonder tree? XI[‘See ye not the narrow road By yon lillie leven?] That’s the road the righteous goes And that’s the road to heaven. XII‘An’ see na ye that braid road Down by yon sunny fell? Yon’s the road the wicked gae, An’ that’s the road to hell. XIII[‘An’ see na ye that bonny road About the fernie brae? That wins back frae Elfland Where you must wait to gae.’] FOOTNOTES: |
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