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The Haunters and the Haunted edited by Ernest Rhys online

XXIV CLERK SAUNDERS

"Border Minstrelsy"

Clerk Saunders and May Margaret
Walked owre yon garden green;
And sad and heavy was the love
That fell them twa between.

And thro' the dark, and thro' the mirk,
And thro' the leaves o' green,
He cam that night to Margaret's door,
And tirléd at the pin.

"O wha is that at my bower door,
Sae weel my name does ken?"
"'Tis I, Clerk Saunders, your true love;
You'll open and let me in?"

"But in may come my seven bauld brithers,
Wi' torches burning bright;
They'll say--'We hae but ae sister,
And behold she's wi' a knight!'"

"Ye'll tak my brand I bear in hand,
And wi' the same ye'll lift the pin;
Then ye may swear, and save your aith,
That ye ne'er let Clerk Saunders in.

"Ye'll tak the kerchief in your hand,
And wi' the same tie up your een;
Then ye may swear and save your aith,
Ye saw me na since yestere'en."

It was about the midnight hour,
When they asleep were laid,
When in and cam her seven brothers,
Wi' torches burning red.

When in and cam her seven brothers,
Wi' torches burning bright;
They said, "We hae but ae sister,
And behold she's wi' a knight."

Then out and spak the first o' them,
"We'll awa' and lat them be."
And out and spak the second o' them,
"His father has nae mair than he!"

And out and spak the third o' them,
"I wot they are lovers dear!"
And out and spak the fourth o' them,
"They hae lo'ed this mony a year!"

Then out and spak the fifth o' them,
"It were sin true love to twain!"
"'Twere shame," out spak the sixth o' them,
"To slay a sleeping man!"

Then up and gat the seventh o' them,
And never a word spak he;
But he has striped his bright brown brand
Through Saunders' fair bodie.

Clerk Saunders started, and Margaret she turned,
Into his arms as asleep she lay;
And sad and silent was the night,
That was atween thir twae.

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