This is #235B from the Greig-Duncan Folk Song Collection. There are some clarifications here that I really like - some parts of the other versions confuse me.

SIR JAMES THE ROSE

1. Of all the Scottish northern chiefs
Of high and warlike fame,
The bravest was Sir James the Rose
A knight of mickle fame.

2. His growth was like a youthful oak,
That crowns the mountain's brow,
And waving o'er his shoulders broad,
His locks of yellow flew.

3. Wide were his fields, his herds were large,
And large his flocks of sheep,
And the many were his goats and deer,
Upon the mountains steep.

4. The chieftain of the good clan Rose,
A firm and warlike band,
Five hundred warriors drew the sword,
Beneath his high command.

5. In bloody fight thrice had he stood
Against the English keen, -
Ere two and twenty opening springs,
The blooming youth had seen.

6. The fair Matilda dear he loved,
A maid of beauty rare
Even Margaret on the Scottish throne,
Was never half so fair.

7. Long had he wooed, long she refused,
With seeming scorn and empty pride,
Yet oft her eyes confessed the love,
Her fearful words denied.

8. At length she blessed his well-tried love,
Allowed his tender claim,
She vowed to him her tender heart,
And owned an equal flame.

9. Her father, Buchan's cruel lord,
Their passion disapproved,
And bade her wed Sir John the Graeme,
And leave the youth she loved.

10. One night they met as they were wont,
Deep in a shady wood,
Where on the bank beside the burn,
A blooming saugh-tree stood

11. Concealed among the underwood,
The crafty Donald lay,
The brother of Sir John the Graeme,
To hear what they might say.

12. And thus the maid began "My sire
Our passion disapproves,
But bids me wed Sir John the Graeme,
So here must end our loves.

13. "My father's will must be obeyed,
Naught boots me to withstand,
Some fairer maid in beauty's bloom,
Shall bless you with her hand.

14. "Soon will Matilda be forgot
And from thy mind effaced,
But may that happiness be thine,
Which I can never taste."

15. "Is this Matilda's vows I hear?"
Sir James the Rose replied,
"And will Matilda wed the Graeme
Though sworn to be my bride?

16. "His sword shall sooner pierce my heart,
Than reave me of thy charms,"
He clasped her to his throbbing breast
Fast locked within his arms.

17. "I spoke to try thy love" she said,
"I'll ne'er wed man but thee.
The grave shail be my bridal bed
Ere Graeme espouses me.

18. "Then take dear youth this faithful kiss,
In witness of my troth,
And every plague become my lot,
That day I break my oath."

19. They parted thus, the sun was set,
Up hasty Donald flies,
And "Turn thee, turn thee, beardless youth,"
He loud insulting cries.

20. Soon turned him round the fearless chief,
And quick his sword he drew,
For Donald's blade before his breast
Had pierced his tartans through.

21. "This for my brother's slighted love,
His wrongs sit on my arm" —
Three paces back the chieftain drew,
And saved himself from harm.

22. Returning, swift his sword he swung,
Fierce Donald's head above,
And through the brain and crashing bone,
His furious weapon drove.

23. Life issued at the wound — he fell,
A lump of lifeless clay,
"So fall my foes," said valiant Rose,
And stately strode away.

24. The green-wood through in haste he passed,
Unto Lord Buchan's hall,
Beneath Matilda's window stood,
And thus on her did call.

25. "Art thou asleep Matilda dear?
Awake my love, awake,
Behold thy lover awaits thee,
Long farewell to take."

26. "For I have slain fierce Donald Graeme,
His blood is on my sword,
And far, far distant are my men,
Nor can defend their lord.

27. "To Skye I will direct my flight
Where my brave brothers bide,
To raise the mighty of the isles,
To combat on my side."

28. "Oh do not so," the maid replied,
With me till morning stay,
For dark and dreary is the night,
And dangerous is the way."

29. "All night I'll watch thee in the park,
My faithful page I'll send
In haste to raise the brave clan Rose
Their master to defend."

30. He laid him down beneath a bush,
And wrapped him in his plaid,
While trembling for her lover's fate,
At a distance stood the maid.

31. Swift ran the page o'er hill and dale,
Till in a lonely glen,
He met the fierce Sir John the Graeme,
With twenty of his men.

32. "Where goest thou little page?" he said
"So late who did thee send?"
"I go to raise the brave clan Rose
Their master to defend.

33. "For he has slain fierce Donald Graeme
His blood is on his sword,
And far, far distant are his men,
Nor can defend their lord."

34. "And has he slain my brother dear?"
The furious chief replies,
"Dishonour blast my name but he
By me ere morning dies."

35. "Say, page, where is Sir James the Rose?
I will thee well reward."
"He sleeps into Lord Buchan's park,
Matilda is his guard."

36. They spurred their steeds and furious flew,
Like lightning o'er the lea,
They reached Lord Buchan's lofty tower
By dawning of the day.

37. Matilda stood without the gate,
Upon a rising ground,
And watched her lover in the dawn,
Her ear hears every sound.

38. "Where sleeps the Rose?" began the Graeme
"Or has the felon fled?
This hand shall lay the caitiff low,
By whom my brother bled."

39 "Last day at noon," Matilda said,
"Sir James the Rose passed by,
Well mounted on his noble steed,
And onward fast did hie."

40. "By this time he's at Edinburgh town,
If horse and man hold good."
"Your page then lied, who said he was
Now sleeping in this wood."

41. She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
"Brave Rose thou art betrayed,
And ruined by the very means
I meant to bring thee aid."

42. And now the valiant knight awoke,
His true-love shrieking heard,
Straight up he rose and drew his sword,
When the fierce band appeared.

43. "Your sword last night my brother slew,
His blood yet dims it shine,
And ere the sun shall gild the morn
Your hood shall reek on mine."

44 "Your words are brave," the chief replied,
"But deeds approve the man,
Set by your men and hand to hand,
We'll try what valour can."

45. With dauntless step he forward strode,
And dared him to the fight,
The Graeme gave back, he feared his arm,
For well he knew his might

46. Four of his men the bravest four,
Went down beneath his sword,
But still he scorned the poor revenge
And sought their haughty lord.

47. Behind him basely came the Graeme,
And pierced him in the side,
Out spouting came the purple stream
And all his tartans dyed.

48. But yet his hand dropped not the sword,
Not sank he to the ground,
Till through his enemy's heart the steel
Had forced a mortal wound.

49. Graeme like a tree by wind o'erthrown
Fell lifeless on the clay,
And down beside sank the Rose,
And faint and dying lay.

50. Matilda saw and fast she ran.
"Oh spare his life," she cried,
Lord Buchan's daughter begs his life,
Let her not be denied."

51. Her well-known voice the hero heard,
And raised his death-closed eyes,
He fixed them on the weeping maid,
And weakly thus replied.

52. "In vain Matilda begs a life,
By death's arrest denied,
My race is run, adieu my love,"
Then closed his eyes and died.

53. The sword yet warm from his left side,
With a . . . hand she drew,
"I come, I come, my love," she cried,
"I come to follow you."

54. The hilt she leaned against the ground,
And bared her snowy breast,
Then fell upon her lover's face,
And sank to endless rest.


GEORGE F. DUNCAN — D

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