The eldest she was vex-ed sair,
And sore envi-ed her sister fair.
Upon a morning fair and clear
She cried upon her sister dear:
"O, sister, come to yon river strand,
And see our father's ships come to land."
She's ta'en her by the lily hand,
And led her down to the river strand.
And as they walk-ed by the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.
"O, sister, sister, reach your hand,
And ye'll be heir to a' my land!"--
"Foul fa' the hand that I wad take
To twin me o' my warld's make!"--
"O, sister, reach me but your glove,
And sweet William shall be your love!"--
"Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,
And sweet William shall be my love:
"Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair
Garr'd me gang maiden evermair."
She clasped her hands about a broom root,
But her cruel sister she loosed them out.
Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
Until she came to the miller's dam.
The miller's daughter was baking bread,
She went for water as she had need.
"O father, father, draw your dam!
There's either a maid or a milk-white swan!"
The miller hasted and drew his dam,
And there he found a drowned wom-an.
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