"Oh! rise up, Willie Reilly, and come along with me,
I mean for to go with you and leave this counterie,
To leave my father's dwelling, his houses, and free land;"
And away goes Willie Reilly and his dear Coolen Ban.
They go by hills and mountains and yon lonesome plain,
Through shady groves and valleys all danger to refrain;
But her father followed after with a well-armed band,
And taken was poor Reilly and his dear Coolen Ban.
It's home that she was taken, and in her closet bound;
Poor Reilly all in Sligo gaol lay on the stony ground.
Till at the bar of justice, before the Judge he'd stand,
For nothing but the stealing of his Coolen Ban.
The Gaoler's son to Reilly goes and thus to him did say,
"Oh, get up, Willie Reilly, you must appear this day,
For great Squire Fiollard's anger you can never withstand,
I'm afeard you'll suffer sorely for your dear Coolen Ban.
Now Willie's dressed from top to toe all in a suit of green;
His hair hangs straight over his shoulders most glorious to be seen;
He's tall and straight and comely as any could be found;
He's fit for Foillard's daughter, were she heiress to a crown.
The Judge he said: "This lady being in her tender youth,
If Reilly has deluded her she will declare the truth,"
Then, like a moving beauty bright, before him she did stand,
"You're welcome there, my heart's delight and dear Coolen Ban."
"Oh, gentlemen," Squire Foillard said, "with pity look on me,
This villain came amongst us to disgrace our family,
And by his base contrivances this villainy was planned;
If I don't get satisfaction I'll quit this Irish land."
The lady with a tear began, and thus replied she:
"The fault is none of Reilly's, the blame is all on me;
I forced him for to leave his place and come along with me;
I loved him out of measure, which wrought our destiny."
Out bespoke the noble Fox at the table he stood by:
"Oh, gentlemen, consider on this extremity;
To hang a man for love is a murder you may see:
So spare the life of Reilly, let him leave this counterie."
"Good my lord, he stole from her her diamonds and her rings,
Gold watch and silver buckles, and many precious things,
Which cost me in bright guineas more than five hundred pounds,
I'll have the life of reilly should I lose then(?) thousand pounds."
"Good my lord, I gave them as tokens of true love,
And when we are a-parting I will them all remove;
If you have got them, Reilly, pray send them home to me."
"I will, my loving Lady, with many thanks to thee."