6
The bansters are lyart, runkled and grey
At fairs nor at preaching,
Nae wooing, nae fleeching,
Since our bra' Foresters are a' wed away.
O dool for the order,
Sent our lads to the border!
The English fore anes, by guile got the day:
The Flowers of the Forest,
That ay shone the foremost,
The prime of our lads lie cold in the clay.
We'll hear nae mair lilting,
At our ewes milking:
The women and bairns are dowie and wae,
Sighing and moaning,
On ilka green loaning,
Since our br'a Foresters are a' wed away.
I have seen the smiling
Of fortune beguiling;
I have felt all her favours, and found her decay;
Sweet is her blessing,
And kind her caressing;
But now it is fled, it is fled far away.
I have seen the forest,
Adorned the foremost,
With flowers of the fairest, both pleasant and gay;
Sae bonny was their blooming,
Their scent the air perfuming,
But now they are withered, and all gone away.
I have seen the morning,
With gold the hills adorning,
