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Willie o Couglas Dale

No: 101; variant: 101C

  1. SWEET Sir William of Douglas Dale, A knight's ae son was he; He dreamed of dear Dame Oliphant, Lang ere he did her see.
  2. He dreamed a woman of great beauty Gave him a red rose flower, Well busket about wi the lillies white, Just like the paramour.
  3. O sweet Sir William of Douglas Dale, A knight's ae son was he, And he is on to the king's high court, To serve for meat and fee.
  1. Five hundred pounds of Spanish gold, Tied in a towal so white, And that she has given her Lord William, Out oer the castle-dyke.
  2. Five hundred pounds of Spanish gold, Tied in a towel sae sma, And that she has given her own true-love, Out ore the castle-wa.
  3. She rowed hersell in a robe o silk, To loup the castle-wa; He ceppet her in his armes twa, And he let not her get a fa.
  1. The cocks do craw, and the day does daw, And the wild fowl bodes on hill; The lassie she followed her Sweet William, And let the tears down fall.
  1. 'O want you ribbons to your hair? Or roses to your sheen? Or want ye as much of feel daft love As your heart can contain?'
  2. 'I want nor ribbons to my hair, Nor roses to my sheen; I've got as much o dear bought love As my heart can contain.'
  1. He carried a flint in his pocket, And he strack to her a fire, And he buskit it roun wi the leaves o oak, And gart it burn wi ire.
  2. He's taen his big coat him about, And his gun into his hand, And he has gone to good green wood, To kill some venison.
  3. He's taen his big coat him about, And his gun into his han, But lang ere he came back again She bare his dear young son.
  4. He rowed her in his muckle coat, But in his good night-gown, And he fed her wi the good goat-milk, Till she was well able to gang.
  5. He's taen his young son in his arm, His lady in his hand, And they are down thro good green wood, As fast as they can gang.
  6. And they came to a shepherd's daughter, Was feeding at her sheep; Says, Will ye go to Douglass Dale, Wi my yong son to keep?
  7. O I will gee you gold, maiden, And I will gee you fee, Gin ye will go to Douglas Dale, Wi my yong son and me.
  8. She's taen his young son in her arm, And kissed baith cheek and chin; Says, I will go to Douglas Dale, As fast as I can win.
  9. He's taen his big coat him about, And his lady in his hand, And they are off to Douglas Dale, As fast as they can gang.
  10. And when they came to Douglas Dale A happy man was he, For his lady, and his young son, And his nurse, a' three.