Classic Poem

Text, Maidement, North Countrie Garland , p. 1.
1.

Thomas Stuart was a lord,
A lord of mickle land;
He used to wear a coat of gold,
But now his grave is green.

2.

Now he has wooed the young countess,
The Countess of Balquhin,
An given her for a morning-gift
Strathboggie and Aboyne.

3.

But women's wit is aye willful,
Alas that ever it was sae.
She longed to see the moning-gift
That her gude lord to her gae.

4.

When steeds were saddled an weel bridled,
An ready for to ride,
There came a pain on that gude lord,
His back, likewise his side.

5.

He said, " Ride on, my lady fair,
May goodness be your guide;
For I'm sae sick an weary that
No farther can I ride. "

6.

Now ben did come his father dear,
Wearing a golden band;
Says, " Is there nae leech in Edinburgh
Can cure my son from wrang? "

7.

" O leech is come, an leech is gane,
Yet, father, I'm aye waur;
There's not a leech in Edinbro
Can death from me debar.

8.

" But be a friend to my wife, father,
Restore her to her own;
Restore to her my morning-gift,
Strathboggie and Aboyne.

9.

" It had been gude for my wife, father,
To me she'd born a son;
He would have got my lands an rents,
Where they lie out an in.

10.

" It had been gude for my wife, father,
To me she'd born an heir;
He would have got my lands an rents,
Where they lie fine an fair. "

11.

The steeds they strave into their stables,
The boys couldn't get them bound;
The hounds lay howling on the leech,
Cause their master was behind.

12.

" I dreamed a dream since late yeatreen,
I wish it may be good,
That our chamber was full of swine,
An our bed full of blood. "

13.

I saw a woman come from the West,
Full sore wringing her hands,
And aye she cried, " Ohon, alas!
My good lord's broken bands. "

14.

As she came by my good lord's bower,
Saw mony black steeds an brown:
" I'm feared it be mony unco lords
Havin my love from town. "

15.

As she came by my gude lord's bower,
Saw mony black steeds an grey:
" I'm feared it's mony unco lords
Havin my love to the clay. "