uy an earldome.

22.
An' they gid down by yon sea-side,
An' down by yon sea-stran';
Sae bonny did the Hollan boats
Come rowin' to their han'.

23.
She set her milk-white foot on board,
Cried 'Hail ye, Domine!'
An' the Belly Blin was the steerer o't,
To row her o'er the sea.

24.
Whan she came to Young Bekie's gate,
She heard the music play;
Sae well she kent frae a' she heard,
It was his wedding day.

25.
She's pitten her han' in her pocket,
Gin the porter guineas three;
'Hae, tak ye that, ye proud porter,
Bid the bride-groom speake to me.'

26.
O whan that he cam up the stair,
He fell low down on his knee:
He hail'd the king, an' he hail'd the queen,
An' he hail'd him, Young Bekie.

27.
'O I've been porter at your gates
This thirty years an' three;
But there's three ladies at them now,
Their like I never did see.

28.
'There's ane o' them dress'd in red scarlet,
And twa in dainty green,
An' they hae girdles about their middles
Woud buy an earldome.'

29.
Then out it spake the bierly bride,
Was a' goud to the chin:
'Gin she be braw without,' she says,
'We's be as braw within.'

30.
Then up it starts him, Young Bekie,
An' the tears was in his ee:
'I'll lay my life it's Burd Isbel,
Come o'er the sea to me.'

31.
O quickly ran he down the stair,
An' whan he saw 'twas she,
He kindly took her in his arms,
And kiss'd her tenderly.

32.
'O hae ye forgotten, Young Bekie
The vow ye made to me,
Whan I took ye out o' the prison strong
Whan ye was condemn'd to die?

33.
'I gae you a steed was good in need,
An' a saddle o' royal bone,
A leash o' hounds o' ae litter,
An' Hector called one.'

34.
It was well kent what the lady said,
That it wasnae a lee,
For at ilka word the lady spake,
The hound fell at her knee.

35.
'Tak hame, tak hame your daughter dear,
A blessing gae her wi',
For I maun marry my Burd Isbel,
That's come o'er the sea to me.'

36.
'Is this the custom o' your house,
Or the fashion o' your lan',
To marry a maid in a May mornin',
An' send her back at even?'

[Annotations:
4.1: 'borrow,' ransom.
6.1,2: 'but ... ben,' out ... in.
7.3: 'stown,' stolen.
8.3: 'rottons,' rats.
15.2: The MS. reads 'How y you.'
16.3: 'marys,' maids.
29.1: 'bie