Young Waters Poem by Anonymous British

About Yule, quhen the wind blew cule,
And the round tables began,
A! there is **** to our kings court
Mony a well-favourd man.

The queen luikt owre the castle wa,
Beheld baith dale and down,
And then she saw young Waters
**** riding to the town.

His footmen they did rin before,
His horsemen rade behind;
And mantel of the burning gowd
Did keip him frae the wind.

Gowden graith'd his horse before,
And siller shod behind;
The horse young Waters rade upon
Was fleeter than the wind.

But than spake a wylie lord,
Unto the queen said he:
'O tell me qhua's the fairest face
Rides in the company?'

'I've sene lord, and I've sene laird,
And knights of high degree,
Bot a fairer face than young Waters
Mine eyne did never see.'

Out then spack the jealous king
(And an angry man was he):
'O, if he had been twice as fair,
You micht have excepted me.'

'You're neither laird nor lord,' she says,
'Bot the king that wears the crown;
Thereis not a knight in fair
Scotland,
Bot to thee maun bow down.'

For a' that she could do or say,
Appeasd he wad nae bee;
Bot for the words which she had said
Young Waters he maun dee.

They hae taen young Waters, and
Put fetters to his feet;
They hae taen young Waters, and
Thrown him in dungeon deep.

'Aft I have ridden thro' Stirling town,
In the wind both and the weit;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Wi fetters at my feet.

'Aft have I ridden thro' Stirling town,
In the wind both and the rain;
Bot I neir rade thro' Stirling town
Neir to return again.'

They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His young son in his craddle;
And they hae taen to the heiding-hill
His horse both and his saddle.

They hae taen to the heiding-hill
His lady fair to see;
And for the words the queen had spoke
Young Waters he did dee.