Lamkin (Child 93Q)

Lammikin was as gude a mason
as ever hewed a stane;
He biggit Lord Weire's castle,
but payment gat he nane.

'Where are the lads o this castle?'
says the Lammikin:
'They are a' wi Lord Weire, hunting,'
the false nourice did sing.

'Where are the lasses o this castle?'
says the Lammikin:
'They are a' out at the washing,'
the false nourice did sing.

'But where's the lady o this house?'
says the Lammikin:
'She is in her bower sewing,'
the false nourice did sing.

'Is this the bairn o this house?'
says the Lammikin:
'The only bairn Lord Weire aughts,'
the false nourice did sing.

'Still my bairn, nourice,
O still him if ye can:'
'He will not still, madam,
for a' his father's lan.'

'O gentle nourice, still my bairn,
O still him wi the keys:'
'He will not still, fair lady,
let me do what I please.'

'O still my bairn, kind nourice,
O still him wi the ring:'
'He will not still, my lady,
let me do any thing.'

The first step she stepped,
she stepped on a stane;
The next step she stepped,
she met the Lammikin.

'O nourice, wanted ye your meat?
or wanted ye your fee?
Or wanted ye for any thing
a fair lady could gie?'

'I wanted for nae meat, ladie,
I wanted for nae fee;
But I wanted for a hantle
a fair lady could gie.'

'I wish a' may be weel,' he says,
'wi my ladie at hame;
For the rings upon my fingers
are bursting in twain.'

'There's bluid in my nursery,
there's bluid in my ha,
There's bluid in my fair lady's bower,
an that's warst of a'.'

O sweet, sweet sang the birdie,
upon the bough sae hie,
But little cared false nourice for that,
for it was her gallows-tree.