Ten lords sat drinking at the wine,Intill a morning early;
There fell a combat them among,It must be fought,--nae parly.
--"O stay at hame,my ain gude lord,O stay,my ain dear marrow."--
"Sweetest mine,I will be thine,And dine wi'you to-morrow."
She's kissed his lips,and combed his hair,As she had done before,O;
Gied him a brand down by his side,And he is on to Yarrow.
As he gaed ower yon dowie knowe,As aft he'd dune before,O;
Nine arm-ed men lay in a den,Upo'the braes o'Yarrow.
"O came ye here to hunt or hawk,As ye hae done before,O?
Or came ye here to wiel'your brand,Upo'the braes o'Yarrow."--
"I came nae here to hunt nor hawk,As I hae dune before,O;
But I came here to wiel'my brand,Upon the braes o'Yarrow."--
Four he hurt,and five he slew,Till down he fell himsell,O;
There stood a fause lord him behin',Who thrust him thro'body and mell,O.
"Gae hame,gae hame,my brother John,And tell your sister sorrow;
Your mother to come take up her son,Aff o'the braes o'Yarrow."
As he gaed ower yon high,high hill,As he had dune before,O;