ROBENE AND MAKYNE,

A BALLAD.

1.

ROBENE sat on gud grene hill',
Keipand a flok of fie 2:
Mirry Makyne said him till",
Robene thou rew on me 4:
I haif thè luvit, lowd and still 5,
This yieris two or thrèo;
My dule in dern bot gif thou dill",
Doubtless bot dreid I die 8.

II.
He. Robene answerit, be the rude ',

Nathing of lufe I knaw?;
Bot keipis my scheip undir yone wuds,
Lo quhair they raik on raw 4.

I, 1 Robene sat on a good green hill.2 Keeping a fock of cattle.—3 Merry Makyne said to him. Rotene, take pity ou me-5 I have loved thee openly and secretly._6 These years two or three.-_7 My sorrow, in secret, unless thou share.— Undoubtedly I shall die.

II. 1 Robene answered, by the rood.—. Nothing of love I know.—3 But keep my sheep under yon wood. Lo where they range in a row.

Quhat has marrit thè in thy mude",
Makyne to me thow schaw 6?
Or what is luve, or to be lu’ed?,
Fain wald I leir that law 8.

III.
She. At luvis leir. gif thow will leir",

Take thair an A, B, C %,
Be kind, courtas, and fair of feirs,
Wyse, hardy, and frèt.
Sè that no danger do thè deir",
Quhat dule in dern thow drie 6,
Preiss thè with pane at all poweir 7,
Be patient, and previe.

IV.

He. Robene answerit her agane',

I wait not quhat is luve,
But I haif marvell, in certaines,
Quhat makis thè this wanrufe 4.

The weddir is fair, and I am fane”,
My scheip gois haill aboif,
An we wald play us in this plane?
They wald us baith reproife.

V.
She, Robene take tent unto my tale',

And wirk all as I reid,
And thow sall haif

my

hairt all hailės
Eik and my maidenheid.
Sen God sendis bute for bailla,
And for murning remeid,
I dern with thè, but gif I daill,
Doubtless I am bot deid?.

VI.
He. Makyne, to morne this ilka tyde!,
And

ye

will meit me heir%; Peradventure my scheip may gang besydes, Quhill we haif liggit full neir4,

5 The weather is fair, and I am glad. My sheep go healthful above (or in the uplands).—7 If we should play in this plain.. 8 They would reprove us both.

V. · Robene, take heed unto my tale.? And do all as I advise.-_3 And thou shalt have my heart entirely.-4 Since God sends good for evil.—5 And for mourning consolation. I am now in secret with thee, but if I separate.7 Doubtless I shall die (broken hearted).

VI. 1 Makyne, to-morrow this very time.-? If ye will meet me here. Perhaps my sheep may go aside. - Until we have lain

Bot maugre haif I, an I byde,
Fra they begin to steir,
Quhat lyis on háirt I will nocht hyd,
Makyne then mak gud cheir.

VII.

She. Kobene thou reivis me roif* and rest',

I luve but thè allone?,
He. Makyne adew! the sone gois west",

The day is neirhand gonet.
She. Robene, in dule I am so drests,

That luve will be my bone 6.
He. Ga luve, Makyne, quhair evir thou list?,

For leman I lue none 8.

VIII.
She. Robene, I stand in sic a style!,

I sicht, and that full sair?
He. Makyne, I haif bene heir this quhiles,
. At hame God gif I wair4.

VII. · Robene, thou robbest my quiet and rest. I love but thee alone. -3 Makyne, adieu, the sun goes west. The day is nearly gone.—5 Robene, in sorrow I am so beset.—6 That love will be my bane.- Go love, Makyne, where thou wilt. For sweetheart I love none.

VIII. 1 Robene, I am in such a state.—2 I sigh, and that full sore.—3 Makyne, I have been here some time.-4 At home God grant I were.

* Pinkerton absurdly makes this word roiss; it is roif in the Bannatyne MS.

She. My hinny Robene, talk ane quhyles;

Gif thou wilt do na mair6.
He. Makyne, sum uther man begyle?;
For hamewart I will fair8.

IX.
Robene on his wayis went',
As licht as leif of trè2 :
Makyne murnit in her intent",
And trow'd him nevir to sè 4.
Robene brayd attour the bent",
Than Makyne cryit on hie,
Now ma thow sing, for I am schent?,
Quhat alis lufe with me.

X.
Makyne went hame withouttin faill',
Full werry aftir couth weip?,
Than Robene in a full fair daill, *
Assemblit all his scheip.

5 My sweet Robene, talk a while.—. If thou wilt do no more. 7 Makyne, some other man begaile.—8 For homeward I will fare.

IX. · Robene on his way went. As light as leaf of tree.3 Makyne mourned in her thoughts. 4 And thought hin never to see.—5 Robene went over the hill.–6 Then Makyne cryed on high. -Now you may sing, I am destroyed.—8 What ails, love, with me?

X. 1 Makyne went home without fail.– Fullt after she would weep

* The lines “ Than Robene in a full fair daill,” may either mean that he assembled his sheep in a fair full number, or in a fair piece of low ground; the former is the most probable meaning. + The word werry I am unable to explain. VOL. I.

G