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From Aytoun's Ballads of Scotland (2d ed.), i. 232, "taken down from recitation." Found also, but with several stanzas wanting, in Herd's Scottish Songs, i. 149. The title in both collections is Fine Flowers i' the Valley. This part of the refrain is found in one of the versions of the Cruel Mother, p. 269. To Herd's copy are annexed two fragmentary stanzas with nearly the same burden as that of the foregoing ballad.

She louted down to gie a kiss,

With a hey and a lily gay; He stuck his penknife in her hass, And the rose it smells so sweetly.

"Ride up, ride up," cry'd the foremost man,

With a hey and a lily gay; "I think our bride looks pale and wan," And the rose it smells so sweetly.

There were three sisters in a ha',

Fine flowers i' the valley, There came three lords amang them a', The red, green, and the yellow.

The first o' them was clad in red,5

Fine flowers i' the valley; "O lady, will ye be my bride?" Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

The second o' them was clad in green,

Fine flowers i' the valley;10 "O lady, will ye be my queen?" Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

The third o' them was clad in yellow,

Fine flowers i' the valley; "O lady, will ye be my marrow?"15 Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"O ye maun ask my father dear,"

Fine flowers i' the valley, "Likewise the mother that did me bear," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.20

"And ye maun ask my sister Ann,"

Fine flowers i' the valley; "And not forget my brother John," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"O I have asked thy father dear,"25

Fine flowers i' the valley, "Likewise the mother that did thee bear," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"And I have asked your sister Ann,"

Fine flowers i' the valley;30 "But I forgot your brother John;" Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

Now when the wedding-day was come,

Fine flowers i' the valley, The knight would take his bonny bride home,35 Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

And mony a lord, and mony a knight,

Fine flowers i' the valley, Cam to behold that lady bright, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.40

There was nae man that did her see,

Fine flowers i' the valley, But wished himsell bridegroom to be, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

Her father led her down the stair,45

Fine flowers i' the valley, And her sisters twain they kissed her there, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

Her mother led her through the close,

Fine flowers i' the valley;50 Her brother John set her on her horse, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"You are high and I am low,"

Fine flowers i' the valley; "Give me a kiss before you go,"55 Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

She was louting down to kiss him sweet,

Fine flowers i' the valley; When wi' his knife he wounded her deep, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.60

She hadna ridden through half the town,

Fine flowers i' the valley, Until her heart's blood stained her gown, Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"Ride saftly on," said the best young man,65

Fine flowers i' the valley; "I think our bride looks pale and wan!" Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"O lead me over into yon stile,"

Fine flowers i' the valley,70 "That I may stop and breathe awhile," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"O lead me over into yon stair,"

Fine flowers i' the valley, "For there I'll lie and bleed nae mair,"75 Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"O what will you leave to your father dear?"

Fine flowers i' the valley; "The siller-shod steed that brought me here," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.80

"What will you leave to your mother dear?"

Fine flowers i' the valley; "My velvet pall, and my pearlin' gear," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"What will you leave to your sister Ann?"85

Fine flowers i' the valley; "My silken gown that stands its lane," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"What will you leave to your sister Grace?"

Fine flowers i' the valley;90 "My bluidy shirt to wash and dress," Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.

"What will you leave to your brother John?"

Fine flowers i' the valley; "The gates o' hell to let him in,"95 Wi' the red, green, and the yellow.