It wis intill a pleasant time,

Upon a simmers day,

The noble Earl o Mar’s dother

went forth tae sport an play.

As thus she did amuse herself,

alow a green aik tree,

There she spied a sprightly doo,

Set on a tower sae hie.

O Cow-me-doo, my love sae true,

If ye’ll cam doon tae me

Ye’ll hae a cage o guid reid gowd,

Instead o simple tree.

But she hadna these words weel spake,

Nor yet these words weel said,

Till Cow-me-doo flew fae the tower,

And lichted on her head.

Then she has brocht this pretty bird,

Hame tae her bower an ha,

An made him shine as fair a bird,

As ony o them a’.

When day was gane, an nicht was cam,

About the evenin tide,

This lady spied a sprightly youth,

Stand stracht up by her side.

“From whence cam ye, young man,” she said,

“That does surprise me sair,

My door was boltit richt secure,

What way hae ye cam here?”

“Oh haud yer tongue, ye lady fair,

Lat a yer folly be

Mind ye not on yer turtle-doo,

Last day ye brocht wi thee?”

“O tell me mair, young man,” she said,

“This does surprise me noo

What kintra hae ye come fae?

Whit pedigree are you?”

“My mither bides on foreign isles,

She has nae mair but me

She is a queen o wealth an state,

And birth an high degree.”

“Likewise well skilled in magic spells,

As ye may plainly see,

And she transformed me tae yon shape,

Tae cha(i)rm sic maids as thee.”

“I am a doo the live-lang day,

A sprightly youth at night

This aye gars me appear mair fair,

In a fair maidens sicht.”

“And it wis but this verra day,

That I cam ower the sea

Yer lovely face did me enchant,

I’ll live and dee wi thee.”

“O cow-me-doo, my luve sae true,

Nae mair fae me ye’se gae.”

“That’s niver my intent, my luve,

As ye said, it shall be sae.”

“O cow-me-doo, my luve sae true,

it’s time tae go tae bed.”

“Wi a my hairt, my dear marrow,

it’s be as ye hae said.”