My father cou'dna work, and my mither cou'dna spin;

I toiled baith day and night, but their bread I cou'dna win; Auld Rob maintained them baith, and wi' tears in his ee Said, Jenny, for their sakes, oh, will you marry me?

My heart it said nay; I looked for Jamie back;

But the wind it blew high, and the ship it proved a wrack, The ship it proved a wrack, — why didna Jenny dee?

And why do I live.to say, Oh, waes me!

O, WALY, waly up the bank,
And waly, waly down the brae,
And waly, waly yon burn-side,
Where I and my love wont to gae.

I leaned my back unto an aik,
I thought it was a trusty tree;
But first it bowed, and syne it brak,
Sae my true love did light by me!

O, waly, waly, but love be bonny,
A little time while it is new;
But when 'tis auld it waxeth cauld,
And fades away like the morning
dew.

Al have I not to don in this matere

More than another man hath in this place,

Yet for as moch as ye, my lord so dere

Han alway shewèd me favour and grace,

I dare the better aske of you a space Of audience, to shewen our request, And ye, my lord, to don right as you lest.

For certes, lord, so wel us liketh you And all your werke, and ever have don, that we

Ne couden not ourself devisen how We mighten live in more felicitee: Save one thing, lord, if it your willé be,

That for to be a wedded man you lest, Then were your peple in soverain hertés rest.

Boweth your nekke under the blisful yok

Of soveraintee, and not of servise, Which that men clepen spousalile or wedlok:

And thinketh, lord, among your thoughtés wise,

How that our dayes passe in sondry wise;

For though we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ride,

Ay fleth the time, it wol no man abide.