ide,
And the needle to her tae,
And she is on to Elmond-wood
As fast as she coud gae.

3.
She hadna pu'd a nut, a nut,
Nor broken a branch but ane,
Till by it came a young hind chiel,
Says, 'Lady, lat alane.

4.
'O why pu' ye the nut, the nut,
Or why brake ye the tree?
For I am forester o' this wood:
Ye shoud spier leave at me.'

5.
'I'll ask leave at no living man,
Nor yet will I at thee;
My father is king o'er a' this realm,
This wood belongs to me.'

6.
She hadna pu'd a nut, a nut,
Nor broken a branch but three,
Till by it came him Young Akin,
And gard her lat them be.

7.
The highest tree in Elmond's wood,
He's pu'd it by the reet,
And he has built for her a bower,
Near by a hallow seat.

8.
He's built a bower, made it secure
Wi' carbuncle and stane;
Tho' travellers were never sae nigh,
Appearance it had nane.

9.
He's kept her there in Elmond's wood
For six lang years and one,
Till six pretty sons to him she bear,
And the seventh she's brought home.

10.
It fell ance upon a day,
This guid lord went from home,
And he is to the hunting gane,
Took wi' him his eldest son.

11.
And when they were on a guid way,
Wi' slowly pace did walk,
The boy's heart being something wae,
He thus began to talk.

12.
'A question I woud ask, father,
Gin ye woudna angry be;'
'Say on, say on, my bonny boy,
Ye'se nae be quarrell'd by me.'

13.
'I see my mither's cheeks aye weet,
I never can see them dry;
And I wonder what aileth my mither,
To mourn continually.'

14.
'Your mither was a king's daughter,
Sprung frae a high degree,
And she might hae wed some worthy prince
Had she nae been stown by me.

15.
'I was her father's cupbearer,
Just at that fatal time;
I catch'd her on a misty night,
When summer was in prime.

16.
'My luve to her was most sincere,
Her luve was great for me,
But when she hardships doth endure,
Her folly she does see.'

17.
'I'll shoot the buntin' o' the bush,
The linnet o' the tree,
And bring them to my dear mither,
See if she'll merrier be.'

18.
It fell upo' another day,
This guid lord he thought lang,
And he is to the hunting gane,
Took wi' him his dog and gun.

19.
Wi' bow and arrow by his side,
He's aff, single,