Erl William has muntit his gude grai stede,(Merrie lemis munelicht on the sea,)
And graithit him in ane cumli weid,(Swa bonilie blumis the hawthorn tree.)
Erl William rade,Erl William ran,--
(Fast they ryde quha luve trewlie,)
Quhyll the Elfinland wud that gude Erl wan--
(Blink ower the burn,sweit may,to mee.)
Elfinland wud is dern and dreir,(Merrie is the grai gowkis sang,)
But ilk ane leaf is quhyt as silver cleir,(Licht makis schoirt the road swa lang.)
It is undirnith ane braid aik tree,(Hey and a lo,as the leavis grow grein,)
Thair is kythit ane bricht ladie,(Manie flouris blume quhilk ar nocht seen.)
Around hir slepis the quhyte muneschyne,(Meik is mayden undir kell,)
Her lips bin lyke the blude reid wyne;
(The rois of flouris hes sweitest smell.)
It was al bricht quhare that ladie stude,(Far my luve fure ower the sea.)
Bot dern is the lave of Elfinland wud,(The knicht pruvit false that ance luvit me.)
The ladie's handis were quhyte als milk,(Ringis my luve wore mair nor ane.)
Her skin was safter nor the silk;
(Lilly bricht schinis my luvis halse bane.)
Save you,save you,fayr ladie,(Gentil hert schawis gentil deed.)
Standand alane undir this auld tree;
(Deir till knicht is nobil steid.)
Burdalane,if ye dwall here,(My hert is layed upon this land.)
I wuld like to live your fere;
(The schippis cum sailin to the strand.)
Nevir ane word that ladie sayd;
(Schortest rede hes least to mend.)
Bot on hir harp she evir playd;