It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day, <br />When the corn grew green and yellow, <br />That there fell out a great dispute <br />Between Argyle and Airly. <br /> <br />The Duke o' Montrose has written to Argyle <br />To come in the morning early, <br />An' lead in his men, by the back O' Dunkeld, <br />To plunder the bonnie house o' Airly. <br /> <br />The lady look'd o'er her window sae hie, <br />And O but she looked weary! <br />And there she espied the great Argyle <br />Come to plunder the bonnie house o' Airly. <br /> <br />'Come down, come down, Lady Margaret,' he says, <br />'Come down and kiss me fairly, <br />Or before the morning clear daylight, <br />I'll no leave a standing stane in Airly.' <br /> <br />'I wadna kiss thee, great Argyle, <br />I wadna kiss thee fairly, <br />I wadna kiss thee, great Argyle, <br />Gin you shouldna leave a standing stane Airly.' <br /> <br />He has ta'en her by the middle sae sma', <br />Says, 'Lady, where is your drury?' <br />'It's up and down by the bonnie burn side, <br />Amang the planting of Airly.' <br /> <br />They sought it up, they sought it down, <br />They sought it late and early, <br />And found it in the bonnie balm-tree, <br />That shines on the bowling-green o' Airly, <br /> <br />He has ta'en her by the left shoulder, <br />And O but she grat sairly, <br />And led her down to yon green bank, <br />Till he plundered the bonnie house o' Airly. <br /> <br />'O it's I hae seven braw sons,' she says, <br />'And the youngest ne'er saw his daddie, <br />And altho' I had as mony mae, <br />I wad gie them a' to Charlie. <br /> <br />'But gin my good lord had been at hame, <br />As this night he is wi' Charlie, <br />There durst na a Campbell in a' the west <br />Hae plundered the bonnie house o' Airly.<br /><br />Andrew Lang<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-bonnie-house-o-airly/
