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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BONNY HIND by ANONYMOUS

First Line: "O MAY SHE COMES, AND MAY SHE GOES"
Last Line: BENEATH THE HOLLIN TREE
O May she comes and May she goes
Down by yon Gardens green
And there she spied a gallant Squire
As Squire had ever been.
And May she comes and May she goes
Down by yon Hollen tree
And there she spied a brisk young Squire
And a brisk young Squire was he.
Give me your green Manteel fair Maid,
Give me your Maidenhead;
Gif ye winna give me your green Manteel
Gi' me your Maidenhead.
He has ta'en her by the Milkwhite hand
And softly laid her down,
And when he 's lifted her up again
Given her a Silver kame.
Perhaps there may be bairns kind Sir,
Perhaps they may be Nane;
But if you be a Courtier
You'l tell to me your Name.
I am nae Courtier fair Maid
But new come frae the Sea;
I am nae Courtier fair Maid
But when I courteth thee.
They call me Jack when I'm abroad,
Sometimes they call me John;
But when I'm in my Father's Bower
Jock Randal is my Name.
Ye lee, Ye lee my bonny lad,
Sae loud 's I hear ye lee;
For I'm Lord Randal's ae daughter,
He has nae mair nor me.
Ye le, Ye lee [my] bonny May,
Sae loud 's I hear ye lee;
For I'm Lord Randal's yae yae Son
Just now come o'er the Sea.
She 's putten her hand down by her Spare
And out she 's ta'en a knife,
And she has put'n 't in her hearts bluid
And ta'en away her Life.
And he has ta'en up his bonny Sister
With the big tear in his e'en,
And he has buried his bonny Sister
Amang the Hollins green.
And syne he 's hyed him o'er the Dale
His Father dear to see;
Sing O, and O, for my bonny hind
Beneath yon Hollin tree!
What needs you care for your bonny Hyn,
For it you needna care;
There 's aught score hyns in yonder park
And five score hyns to spare.
Four score of them are siller-shod,
Of thae ye may get three:
But O, and O, for my bonny Hyn
Beneath yon Hollin Tree.
What needs you care for your bonny Hyn,
For it you need na care;
Take you the best, gi' me the warst
Since plenty is to spare.
I care no for your Hyns my Lord,
I care na for your Fee:
But O, and O, for my Bonny Hyn
Beneath the Hollin Tree.
O were ye at your Sisters Bower
Your Sister fair to see,
You'l thing nae mair o' your bonny Hyn
Beneath the Hollin Tree.




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