\LBALLADS Child 1A.1
\N1 THERE was a lady of the North Country,
\SBALLADS Child 1A.1r
\N1 Lay the bent to the bonny broom
\SBALLADS Child 1A.1
\N2 And she had lovely daughters three.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.1r
\N2 Fa  la la la, fa la la la ra re
\SBALLADS Child 1A.2
\N1 There was knight of noble worth
Which also lived in the North.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.3
\N1 The knight, of courage stout and brave,
A wife he did desire to have.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.4
\N1 He knocked at the ladie\'s gate
One evening when it was late.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.5
\N1 The eldest sister let him in,
And pin\'d the door with a silver pin.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.6
\N1 The second sister she made his bed,
And laid soft pillows under his head.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.7
\N1 The youngest daughter that same night,
She went to bed to this young knight.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.8
\N1 And in the morning, when it was day,
These words unto him she did say:
\SBALLADS Child 1A.9
\N1 `Now you have had your will,' quoth she,
`I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?'
\SBALLADS Child 1A.10
\N1 The young brave knight to her replyed,
`Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny\'d.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.11
\N1 `If thou canst answer me questions three,
This very day will I marry thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 1A.12
\N1 `Kind sir, in love, O then,' quoth she,
`Tell me what your [three] questions be.'
\SBALLADS Child 1A.13
\N1 `O what is longer than the way,
Or what is deeper than the sea?
\SBALLADS Child 1A.14
\N1 `Or what is louder than the horn,
Or what is sharper than a thorn?
\SBALLADS Child 1A.15
\N1 `Or what is greener than the grass,
Or what is worse then a woman was?'
\SBALLADS Child 1A.16
\N1 `O love is longer than the way,
And hell is deeper than the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.17
\N1 `And thunder is louder than the horn,
And hunger is sharper than a thorn.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.18
\N1 `And poyson is greener than the grass,
And the Devil is worse than woman was.'
\SBALLADS Child 1A.19
\N1 When she these questions answered had,
The knight became exceeding glad.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.20
\N1 And having [truly] try\'d her wit,
He much commended her for it.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.21
\N1 And after, as it is verif+i\'d,
He made of her his lovely bride.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.22
\N1 So now, fair maidens all, adieu,
This song I dedicate to you.
\SBALLADS Child 1A.23
\N1 I wish that you may constant prove
Vnto the man that you do love.
\LBALLADS Child 1B.1
\N1 THERE were three sisters fair and bright,
\SBALLADS Child 1B.1r
\N1 Jennifer gentle and rosemaree
\SBALLADS Child 1B.1
\N2 And they three loved one valiant knight.
\SBALLADS Child 1B.1r
\N2 As the dew f+lies over the mulberry tree
\SBALLADS Child 1B.2
\N1 The eldest sister let him in,
And barred the door with a silver pin.
\SBALLADS Child 1B.3
\N1 The second sister made his bed,
And placed soft pillows under his head.
\SBALLADS Child 1B.4
\N1 The youngest sister, fair and bright,
Was resolved for to wed with this valiant knight.
\SBALLADS Child 1B.5
\N1 `And if you can answer questions three,
O then, fair maid, I will marry with thee.
\SBALLADS Child 1B.6
\N1 `What is louder than an horn,
And what is sharper than a thorn?
\SBALLADS Child 1B.7
\N1 `Thunder is louder than an horn,
And hunger is sharper than a thorn.'
\SBALLADS Child 1B.8
\N1 `What is broader than the way,
And what is deeper than the sea?'
\SBALLADS Child 1B.9
\N1 `Love is broader than the way,
And hell is deeper than the sea.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 1B.10
\N1 . . . . .
`And now, fair maid, I will marry with thee.'
\LBALLADS Child 1C.1
\N1 THERE was a knicht riding frae the east,
\SBALLADS Child 1C.1r
\N1 Sing the Cather banks, the bonnie brume
\SBALLADS Child 1C.1
\N2 Wha had been wooing at monie a place.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.1r
\N2 And ye may beguile a young thing sune
\SBALLADS Child 1C.2
\N1 He came unto a widow\'s door,
And speird whare her three dochters were.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.3
\N1 The auldest ane\'s to a washing gane,
The second\'s to a baking gane.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.4
\N1 The youngest ane\'s to a wedding gane,
And it will be nicht or she be hame.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.5
\N1 He sat him doun upon a stane,
Till thir three lasses came tripping hame.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.6
\N1 The auldest ane\'s to the bed making,
And the second ane\'s to the sheet spreading.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.7
\N1 The youngest ane was bauld and bricht,
And she was to lye with this unco knicht.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.8
\N1 `Gin ye will answer me questions ten,
The  morn ye sall be made my ain.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.9
\N1 `O what is heigher nor the tree?
And what is deeper nor the sea?
\SBALLADS Child 1C.10
\N1 `Or what is heavier nor the lead?
And what is better nor the breid?
\SBALLADS Child 1C.11
\N1 `O what is whiter nor the milk?
Or what is safter nor the silk?
\SBALLADS Child 1C.12
\N1 `Or what is sharper nor a thorn?
Or what is louder nor a horn?
\SBALLADS Child 1C.13
\N1 `Or what is greener nor the grass?
Or what is waur nor a woman was?'
\SBALLADS Child 1C.14
\N1 `O heaven is higher nor the tree,
And hell is deeper nor the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.15
\N1 `O sin is heavier nor the lead,
The blessing\'s better nor the bread.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.16
\N1 `The snaw is whiter nor the milk,
And the down is safter nor the silk.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.17
\N1 `Hunger is sharper nor a thorn,
And shame is louder nor a horn.
\SBALLADS Child 1C.18
\N1 `The pies are greener nor the grass,
And Clootie\'s waur nor a woman was.'
\SBALLADS Child 1C.19
\N1 As sune as she the f+iend did name,
He f+lew awa in a blazing f+lame.
\LBALLADS Child 1D.1
\N1 `O WHAT is higher than the trees?
\SBALLADS Child 1D.1r
\N1 Gar lay the bent to the bonny broom
\SBALLADS Child 1D.1
\N2 And what is deeper than the seas?
\SBALLADS Child 1D.1r
\N2 And you may beguile a fair maid soon
\SBALLADS Child 1D.2
\N1 `O what is whiter than the milk?
Or what is softer than the silk?
\SBALLADS Child 1D.3
\N1 `O what is sharper than the thorn?
O what is louder than the horn?
\SBALLADS Child 1D.4
\N1 `O what is longer than the way?
And what is colder than the clay?
\SBALLADS Child 1D.5
\N1 `O what is greener than the grass?
And what is worse than woman was?'
\SBALLADS Child 1D.6
\N1 `O heaven\'s higher than the trees,
And hell is deeper than the seas.
\SBALLADS Child 1D.7
\N1 `And snow is whiter than the milk,
And love is softer than the silk.
\SBALLADS Child 1D.8
\N1 `O hunger\'s sharper than the thorn,
And thunder\'s louder than the horn.
\SBALLADS Child 1D.9
\N1 `O wind is longer than the way,
And death is colder than the clay.
\SBALLADS Child 1D.10
\N1 `O poison\'s greener than the grass,
And the Devil\'s worse than eer woman was.'
\LBALLADS Child 1[E.1]
\N1 There was a lady in the West,
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.1r]
\N1 Lay the bank with the bonny broom
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.1]
\N2 She had three daughters of the best.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.1r]
\N2 Fa lang the dillo
Fa lang the dillo dillo dee
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.2]
\N1 There came a stranger to the gate,
And he three days and nights did wait.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.3]
\N1 The eldest daughter did ope the door,
The second set him on the f+loor.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.4]
\N1 The third daughter she brought a chair,
And placed it that he might sit there.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.5]
\N1 `Now answer me these questions three,
Or you shall surely go with me.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.6]
\N1 `Now answer me these questions six,
Or you shall surely be Old Nick\'s.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.7]
\N1 `Now answer me these questions nine,
Or youe shall surely all be mine.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.8]
\N1 `What is greener than the grass?
What is smoother than crystal glass?
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.9]
\N1 `What is louder than a horn?
What is sharper than a thorn?
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.10]
\N1 `What is brighter than the light?
What is darker than the night?
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.11]
\N1 `What is keener than an axe?
What is softer than melting wax?
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.12]
\N1 `What is rounder than a ring?'
`To you we thus our answers bring.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.13]
\N1 `Envy is greener than the grass,
Flattery smoother than crystal glass.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.14]
\N1 `Rumour is louder than a horn,
Hunger is sharper than a thorn.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.15]
\N1 `Truth is brighter than the light,
Falsehood is darker than the night.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.16]
\N1 `Revenge is keener than an axe,
Love is softer than melting wax.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.17]
\N1 `The world is rounder than a ring,
To you we thus our answers bring.
\SBALLADS Child 1[E.18]
\N1 `Thus you have our answers nine,
And we never shall be thine.'
\LBALLADS Child 2A.b
\N1 MY plaid awa, my plaid awa,
And ore the hill and far awa,
And far awa to Norrowa,
My plaid shall not be blown awa.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.1
\N1 The elphin knight sits on yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2A.1r
\N1 Ba, ba, ba, lilli ba
\SBALLADS Child 2A.1
\N2 He blaws his horn both lowd and shril.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.1r
\N2 The wind hath blown my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2A.2
\N1 He blowes it east, he blowes it west,
He blowes it where he lyketh best.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.3
\N1 `I wish that horn were in my kist,
Yea, and the knight in my armes two.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.4
\N1 She had no sooner these words said,
When that the knight came to her bed.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.5
\N1 `Thou art over young a maid,' quoth he,
`Married with me thou il wouldst be.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.6
\N1 `I have a sister younger than I,
And she was married yesterday.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.7
\N1 `Married with me if thou wouldst be,
A courtesie thou must do to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.8
\N1 `For thou must shape a sark to me,
Without any cut or heme,' quoth he.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.9
\N1 `Thou must shape it knife-and-sheerlesse,
And also sue it needle-threedlesse.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.10
\N1 `If that piece of courtesie I do to thee,
Another thou must do to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.11
\N1 `I have an aiker of good ley-land,
Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.12
\N1 `For thou must eare it with thy horn,
So thou must sow it with thy corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.13
\N1 `And bigg a cart of stone and lyme,
Robin Redbreast he must trail it hame.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.14
\N1 `Thou must barn it in a mouse-holl,
And thrash it into thy shoes soll.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.15
And thou must winnow it in thy looff,
And also seck it in thy glove.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.16
\N1 `For thou must bring it over the sea,
And thou must bring it dry home to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2A.17
`When thou hast gotten thy turns well done,
Then come to me and get thy sark then.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.18
\N1 `I\'l not quite my plaid for my life;
It haps my seven bairns and my wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.18r
\N2 The wind shall not blow my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2A.19
\N1 `My maidenhead I\'l then keep still,
Let the elphin knight do what he will.'
\SBALLADS Child 2A.19r
\N2 The wind\'s not blown my plaid awa
\LBALLADS Child 2B.b
\N1 MY plaid awa, my plaid awa,
And owre the hills and far awa,
And far awa to Norrowa,
My plaid shall not be blawn awa.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.1
\N1 The Elphin knight sits on yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2B.1r
\N1 Ba, ba, ba, lillie ba
\SBALLADS Child 2B.1
\N2 He blaws his horn baith loud and shrill.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.1r
\N2 The wind hath blawn my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2B.2
\N1 He blaws it east, he blaws it west,
He blaws it where he liketh best.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.3
\N1 `I wish that horn were in my kist,
Yea, and the knight in my arms niest.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.4
\N1 She had no sooner these words said,
Than the knight came to her bed.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.5
\N1 `Thou art oer young a maid,' quoth he,
`Married with me that thou wouldst be.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.6
\N1 `I have a sister, younger than I,
And she was married yesterday.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.7
\N1 `Married with me if thou wouldst be,
A curtisie thou must do to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.8
\N1 `It\'s ye maun mak a sark to me,
Without any cut or seam,' quoth he.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.9
\N1 `And ye maun shape it, knife-, sheerless,
And also sew it needle-, threedless.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.10
\N1 `If that piece of courtisie I do to thee,
Another thou must do to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.11
\N1 `I have an aiker of good ley land,
Which lyeth low by yon sea strand.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.12
\N1 `It\'s ye maun till\'t wi your touting horn,
And ye maun saw\'t wi the pepper corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.13
\N1 `And ye maun harrow\'t wi a thorn,
And hae your wark done ere the morn.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.14
\N1 `And ye maun shear it wi your knife,
And no lose a stack o\'t for your life.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.15
\N1 `And ye maun stack it in a mouse hole,
And ye maun thrash it in your shoe sole.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.16
\N1 `And ye maun dight it in your loof,
And also sack it in your glove.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.17
\N1 `And thou must bring it over the sea,
Fair and clean and dry to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2B.18
\N1 `And when that ye have done your wark,
Come back to me, and ye\'ll get your sark.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.19
\N1 `I\'ll not quite my plaid for my life;
It haps my seven bairns and my wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 2B.20
\N1 `My maidenhead I\'ll then keep still,
Let the elphin knight do what he will.
\LBALLADS Child 2C.1
\N1 THERE stands a knicht at the tap o yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2C.1r
\N1 Oure the hills and far awa
\SBALLADS Child 2C.1
\N2 He has blawn his horn loud and shill.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.1r
\N2 The cauld wind\'s blawn my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2C.2
\N1 `If I had the horn that I hear blawn,
And the knicht that blaws that horn!'
\SBALLADS Child 2C.3
\N3 She had na sooner thae words said,
Than the elf+in knicht cam to her side.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.4
\N1 `Are na ye oure young a may
Wi onie young man doun to lie?'
\SBALLADS Child 2C.5
\N1 `I have a sister younger than I,
And she was married yesterday.'
\SBALLADS Child 2C.6
\N1 `Married wi me ye sall neer be nane
Till ye mak to me a sark but a seam.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.7
\N1 `And ye maun shape it knife-,sheer-less,
And ye maun sew it needle-, threed-less.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.8
\N1 `And ye maun wash it in yon cistran,
Whare water never stood nor ran.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.9
\N1 `And ye maun dry it on yon hawthorn,
Whare the sun neer shon sin man was born.'
\SBALLADS Child 2C.10
\N1 `Gin that courtesie I do for thee,
Ye maun do this for me.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.11
\N1 `Ye\'ll get an acre o gude red-land
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.12
\N1 `I want that land for to be corn,
And ye maun aer it wi your horn.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.13
\N1 `And ye maun saw it without a seed,
And ye maun harrow it wi a threed.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.14
\N1 `And ye maun shear it wi your knife,
And na tyne a pickle o\'t for your life.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.15
\N1 `And ye maun moue it in yon mouse-hole
And ye maun thrash it in your shoe-sole.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.16
\N1 `And ye maun fan it wi your luves,
And ye maun sack it in your gloves.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.17
\N1 `And ye maun bring it oure the sea,
Fair and clean and dry to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2C.18
\N1 `And whan that your wark is weill deen,
Yese get your sark without a seam.'
\LBALLADS Child 2D.1
\N1 THE Elf+in knight stands on yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2D.1r
\N1 Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
\SBALLADS Child 2D.1
\N2 Blawing his horn loud and shrill.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.1r
\N2 And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2D.2
\N1 `If I had yon horn in my kist,
And the bonny laddie here that I luve best!
\SBALLADS Child 2D.3
\N1 `I hae a sister eleven years auld,
And she to the young men\'s bed has made bauld.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.4
\N1 `And I mysell am only nine,
And oh! sae fain, luve, as I woud be thine.'
\SBALLADS Child 2D.5
\N1 `Ye maun make me a f+ine Holland sark,
Without ony stitching or needle wark.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.6
\N1 `And ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Where the dew never wat, nor the rain ever fell.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.7
\N1 `And ye maun dry it upon a thorn
That never budded sin Adam was born.'
\SBALLADS Child 2D.8
\N1 `Now sin ye\'ve askd some things o me,
It\'s right I ask as mony o thee.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.9
\N1 `My father he askd me an acre o land,
Between the saut sea and the strand.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.10
\N1 `And ye maun plow\'t wi your blawing horn,
And ye maun saw\'t wi pepper corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.11
\N1 And ye maun harrow\'t wi a single tyne,
And ye maun shear\'t wi a sheep\'s shank bane.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.12
\N1 `And ye maun big it in the sea,
And bring the stathle dry to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.13
\N1 `And ye maun barn \'t in yon mouse hole,
And ye maun thrash\'t in your shee sole.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.14
\N1 `And ye maun sack it in your gluve,
And ye maun winno\'t in your leuve.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.15
\N1 `And ye maun dry\'t without candle or coal,
And grind it without quirn or mill.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.16
\N1 `Ye\'ll big a cart o stane and lime,
Gar Robin Redbreast trail it syne.
\SBALLADS Child 2D.17
\N1 `When ye\'ve dune, and f+inishd your wark,
Ye\'ll come to me, luve, and get your sark.'
\LBALLADS Child 2E.1
\N1 THE Elf+in Knight sits on yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2E.1r
\N1 Ba ba lilly ba
\SBALLADS Child 2E.1
\N2 Blowing his horn loud and shill.
\SBALLADS Child 2E.1r
\N2 And the wind has blawn my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2E.2
\N1 `I love to hear that horn blaw;
I wish him [here] owns it and a\'.'
\SBALLADS Child 2E.3
\N1 That word it was no sooner spoken,
Than Elf+in Knight in her arms was gotten.
\SBALLADS Child 2E.4
\N1 `You must mak to me a sark,
Without threed, sheers or needle wark.'
\LBALLADS Child 2F.1
\N1 `DID ye ever travel twixt Berwick and Lyne?
\SBALLADS Child 2F.1r
\N1 Sober and grave grows merry in time
\SBALLADS Child 2F.1
\N2 There ye\'ll meet wi a handsome young dame,
\SBALLADS Child 2F.1r
\N2 Ance she was a true love o mine.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.2
\N1 `Tell her to sew me a holland sark,
And sew it all without needle-wark:
\SBALLADS Child 2F.2r
\N2 And syne we\'ll be true lovers again.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.3
\N1 `Tell her to wash it at yon spring-well,
Where neer wind blew, nor yet rain fell.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.4
\N1 `Tell her to dry it on yon hawthorn,
That neer sprang up sin Adam was born.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.5
\N1 `Tell her to iron it wi a hot iron,
And plait it a\' in ae plait round.'
\SBALLADS Child 2F.6
\N1 `Did ye ever travel twixt Berwick and Lyne?
There ye\'ll meet wi a handsome young man,
\SBALLADS Child 2F.6r
\N2 Ance he was a true lover o mine.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.7
\N1 `Tell him to plough me an acre o land
Betwixt the sea-side bot and the sea-sand,
\SBALLADS Child 2F.7r
\N2 And syne we\'ll be true lovers again.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.8
\N1 `Tell him to saw it wi ae peck o corn,
And harrow it a\' wi ae harrow tine.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.9
\N1 `Tell him to shear it wi ae hook-tooth,
And carry it hame just into his loof.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.10
\N1 `Tell him to stack it in yon mouse-hole,
And thrash it a\' just wi his shoe-sole.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.11
\N1 `Tell him to dry it on yon ribless kiln,
And grind it a\' in yon waterless miln.
\SBALLADS Child 2F.12
\N1 Tell this young man, whan he\'s f+inished his wark,
He may come to me, and hese get his sark.'
\LBALLADS Child 2G.1
\N1 `CAN you make me a cambrick shirt,
\SBALLADS Child 2G.1r
\N1 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme
\SBALLADS Child 2G.1
\N2 Without any seam or needle work?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.1r
\N2 And you shall be a true lover of mine
\SBALLADS Child 2G.2
\N1 `Can you wash it in yonder well,
Where never sprung water nor rain ever fell?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.3
\N1 `Can you dry it on yonder thorn,
Which never bore blossom since Adam was born?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.4
\N1 `Now you have askd me questions three,
I hope you\'ll answer as many for me.
\SBALLADS Child 2G.5
\N1 `Can you f+ind me an acre of land
Between the salt water and the sea sand?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.6
\N1 `Can you plow it with a ram\'s horn,
And sow it all over with one pepper corn?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.7
\N1 `Can you reap it with a sickle of leather,
And bind it up with a peacock\'s feather?
\SBALLADS Child 2G.8
\N1 `When you have done, and f+inishd your work,
Then come to me for your cambrick shirt.'
\LBALLADS Child 2H.1
\N1 `COME, pretty Nelly, and sit thee down by me,
\SBALLADS Child 2H.1r
\N1 Every rose grows merry wi thyme
\SBALLADS Child 2H.1
\N2 And I will ask thee questions three,
\SBALLADS Child 2H.1r
\N2 And then thou wilt be a true lover of mine.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.2
\N1 `Thou must buy me a cambrick smock
Without any stitch of needlework.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.3
\N1 `Thou must wash it in yonder strand,
Where wood never grew and water neer ran.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.4
\N1 `Thou must dry it on yonder thorn,
Where the sun never shined on since Adam was formed.'
\SBALLADS Child 2H.5
\N1 `Thou hast asked me questions three;
Sit down till I ask as many of thee.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.6
\N1 `Thou must buy me an acre of land
Betwixt the salt water, love, and the sea-sand.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.7
\N1 `Thou must plow it wi a ram\'s horn,
And sow it all over wi one pile o corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.8
\N1 `Thou must shear it wi a strap o leather,
And tie it all up in a peacock feather.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.9
\N1 `Thou must stack it in the sea,
And bring the stale o\'t hame dry to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2H.10
\N1 `When my love\'s done, and f+inished his work,
Let him come to me for his cambric smock.'
\LBALLADS Child 2I.1
\N1 A LADY wonned on yonder hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2I.1r
\N1 Hee ba and balou ba
\SBALLADS Child 2I.1
\N2 And she had musick at her will.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.1r
\N2 And the wind has blown my plaid awa
\SBALLADS Child 2I.2
\N1 Up and cam an auld, auld man,
Wi his blue bonnet in his han.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.3
\N1 `I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye\'ll gang wi me.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.4
\N1 `Ye maun mak to me a sark,
It maun be free o woman\'s wark.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.5
\N1 `Ye maun shape it knife- sheerless,
And ye maun sew it needle- threedless.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.6
\N1 `Ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Whare rain nor dew has ever fell.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.7
\N1 `Ye maun dry it on yonder thorn,
Where leaf neer grew since man was born.'
\SBALLADS Child 2I.8
\N1 `I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye\'ll neer get me.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.9
\N1 `I hae a rig o bonnie land
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.10
\N1 `Ye maun plow it wi ae horse bane,
And harrow it wi ae harrow pin.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.11
\N1 `Ye maun shear\'t wi a whang o leather,
And ye maun bind \'t bot strap or tether.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.12
\N1 `Ye maun stack it in the sea,
And bring the stale hame dry to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.13
\N1 `Ye maun mak a cart o stane,
And yoke the wren and bring it hame.
\SBALLADS Child 2I.14
\N1 `Ye maun thresh\'t atween your lufes,
And ye maun sack\'t atween your thies.'
\SBALLADS Child 2I.15
\N1 `My curse on those wha learne+:d thee;
This night I weend ye\'d gane wi me.'
\LBALLADS Child 2J.1
\N1 NOW you are a-going to Cape Ann,
\SBALLADS Child 2J.1r
\N1 Follomingkathellomeday
\SBALLADS Child 2J.1
\N2 Remember me to the self-same  man.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.1r
\N2 Ummatiddle, ummatiddle, ummatallyho, tallyho, follomingkathellomeday
\SBALLADS Child 2J.2
\N1 Tell him to buy me an acre of land
Between the salt-water and the sea-sand.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.3
\N1 Tell him to plough it with a ram\'s horn,
Tell him to sow it with one peppercorn.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.4
\N1 Tell him to reap it with a penknife,
And tell him to cart it with two mice.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.5
\N1 Tell him to cart it to yonder new barn
That never was built since Adam was born.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.6
\N1 Tell him to thrash it with a goose quill,
Tell him to fan it with an egg-shell.
\SBALLADS Child 2J.7
\N1 Tell the fool, when he\'s done his work,
To come to me, and he shall have his shirt.
\LBALLADS Child 2K.1
\N1 MY father left me three acres of land,
\SBALLADS Child 2K.1r
\N1 Sing ivy, sing ivy
\SBALLADS Child 2K.1
\N2 My father left me three acres of land.
\SBALLADS Child 2K.1r
\N2 Sing holly, go whistle and ivy
\SBALLADS Child 2K.2
\N1 I ploughed it with a ram\'s horn,
And sowed it all over with one pepper corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2K.3
\N1 I harrowed it with a bramble bush,
And reaped it with my little penknife.
\SBALLADS Child 2K.4
\N1 I got the mice to carry it to the barn,
And thrashed it with a goose\'s quill.
\SBALLADS Child 2K.5
\N1 I got the cat to carry it to the mill;
The miller he swore he would have her paw,
And the cat she swore she would scratch his face.
\LBALLADS Child 2L.1
\N1 MY father gave me an acre of land,
\SBALLADS Child 2L.1r
\N1 Sing ivy, sing ivy
\SBALLADS Child 2L.1
\N2 My father gave me an acre of land.
\SBALLADS Child 2L.1r
\N2 Sing green bush, holly and ivy
\SBALLADS Child 2L.2
\N1 I ploughd it with a ram\'s horn.
\SBALLADS Child 2L.3
\N1 I harrowd it with a bramble.
\SBALLADS Child 2L.4
\N1 I sowd it with a pepper corn.
\SBALLADS Child 2L.5
\N1 I reapd it with my penknife.
\SBALLADS Child 2L.6
\N1 I carried it to the mill upon the cat\'s back.
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 2L.7
\N1 I made a cake for all the king\'s men.
\LBALLADS Child 2[M.1]
\N1 As I went up to the top o yon hill,
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.1r]
\N1 Every rose springs merry in\' t\' time
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.1]
\N2 I met a fair maid, an her name it was Nell.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.1r]
\N2 An she langed to be a true lover o mine
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.2]
\N1 `Ye\'ll get to me a cambric sark,
An sew it all over without thread or needle.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.2r]
\N2 Before that ye be, etc\.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.3]
`Ye\'ll wash it doun in yonder well,
Where water neer ran an dew never fell.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.4]
\N1 `Ye\'ll bleach it doun by yonder green,
Where grass never grew an wind never blew.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.5]
\N1 `Ye\'ll dry it doun on yonder thorn,
That never bore blossom sin Adam was born.'
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.6]
\N1 `Four questions ye have asked at me,
An as mony mair ye\'ll answer me.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.7]
\N1 `Ye\'ll get to me an acre o land
Atween the saut water an the sea sand.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.8]
\N1 `Ye\'ll plow it wi a ram\'s horn,
An sow it all over wi one peppercorn.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.9]
\N1 `Ye\'ll shear it wi a peacock\'s feather,
An bind it all up wi the sting o an adder.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.10]
\N1 `Ye\'ll stook it in yonder saut sea,
An bring the dry sheaves a\' back to me.
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.11]
\N1 `An when ye\'ve done and f+inished your wark,
Ye\'ll come to me, an ye\'se get your sark.'
\SBALLADS Child 2[M.11r
\N2 An then shall ye be ture lover o mine
\LBALLADS Child 3A.1
\N1 `O WHARE are ye gaun?'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.1r
\N1 Quo the fause knicht upon the road:
\SBALLADS Child 3A.1
\N2 `I\'m gaun to the scule,'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.1r
\N2 Quo the wee boy, and still he stude.
\SBALLADS Child 3A.2
\N1 `What is that upon your back?'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.2r
\N1 quo etc\.
\SBALLADS Child 3A.2
\N2 `Atweel it is my bukes,'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.2r
\N2 quo etc\.
\SBALLADS Child 3A.3
\N1 `What\'s that ye\'ve got in your arm?'
`Atweel it is my peit.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.4
\N1 `Wha\'s aucht they sheep?'
`They are mine and my mither\'s.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.5
\N1 `How monie o them are mine?'
`A\' they that hae blue tails.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.6
\N1 `I wiss ye were on yon tree:'
`And a gude ladder under me.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.7
\N1 `And the ladder for to break:'
`And you for to fa down.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.8
\N1 `I wiss ye were in yon sie:'
And a gude bottom under me.'
\SBALLADS Child 3A.9
\N1 `And the bottom for to break:'
`And ye to be drowned.'
\LBALLADS Child 3B
\N1 `O WHARE are ye gaun?' quo the false knight,
And false, false was his rede:
`I\'m gaun to the scule,' says the pretty little boy,
And still, still he stude.
\LBALLADS Child 3[C.1]
\N1 `O whare are ye gaun?'
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.1r]
\N1 Says the false knight upon the road:
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.1]
\N2 `I am gaun to the schule,'
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.1r]
\N1 Says the wee boy, and still he stood.
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.2]
\N1 `Wha\'s aught the sheep on yonder hill?'
`They are my papa\'s and mine.'
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.3]
\N1 `How many of them\'s mine?'
`A\' them that has blue tails.'
\SBALLADS Child 3[C.4]
\N1 `I wish you were in yonder well:'
`And you were down in hell.'
\LBALLADS Child 4A.1
\N1 FAIR lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,
\SBALLADS Child 4A.1r
\N1 Aye as the gowans grow gay
\SBALLADS Child 4A.1
\N2 There she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.1r
\N2 The f+irst morning in May
\SBALLADS Child 4A.2
\N1 `If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,
And yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.'
\SBALLADS Child 4A.3
\N1 This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,
Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.4
\N1 `It\'s a very strange matter, fair maiden,' said he,
`I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.5
\N1 `But will ye go to yon greenwood side?
If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.'
\SBALLADS Child 4A.6
\N1 He leapt on a horse, and she on another,
And they rode on to the greenwood together.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.7
\N1 `Light down, light down, lady Isabel,' said he,
We are come to the place where ye are to die.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.8
\N1 `Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,
Till ance my dear father and mother I see.'
\SBALLADS Child 4A.9
\N1 `Seven king\'s-daughters here hae I slain,
And ye shall be the eight o them.'
\SBALLADS Child 4A.10
\N1 `O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,
That we may hae some rest before that I die.'
\SBALLADS Child 4A.11
\N1 She stroakd him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,
Wi a sma charm she lulld him fast asleep.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.12
\N1 Wi his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,
Wi his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.
\SBALLADS Child 4A.13
\N1 `If seven king\'s-daughters here ye hae slain,
Lye ye here, a husband to them a\'.'
\LBALLADS Child 4B.1
\N1 THERE came a bird out o a bush,
On water for to dine,
An sighing sair, says the king\'s daughter,
`O wae\'s this heart o mine!'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.2
\N1 He\'s taen a harp into his hand,
He\'s harped them all asleep,
Except it was the king\'s daughter,
Who one wink couldna get.
\SBALLADS Child 4B.3
\N1 He\'s luppen on his berry-brown steed,
Taen \'er on behind himsell,
Then baith rede down to that water
That they ca Wearie\'s Well.
\SBALLADS Child 4B.4
\N1 `Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
No harm shall thee befall;
Oft times I\'ve watered my steed
Wi the waters o Wearie\'s Well.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.5
\N1 The f+irst step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the knee;
And sighend says this lady fair,
`This water\'s nae for me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.6
\N1 `Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
No harm shall thee befall;
Oft times I\'ve watered my steed
Wi the water o Wearie\'s Well.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.7
\N1 The next step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the middle;
`O,' sighend says this lady fair,
I\'ve wat my gowden girdle.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.8
\N1 `Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,
No harm shall thee befall;
Oft times have I watered my steed
Wi the water o Wearie\'s Well.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.9
\N1 The next step that she stepped in,
She stepped to the chin;
`O,' sighend says this lady fair,
`They sud gar twa loves twin.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.10
\N1 `Seven king\'s-daughters I\'ve drownd there,
In the water o Wearie\'s Well,
And I\'ll make you the eight o them,
And ring the common bell.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.11
\N1 `Since I am standing here,' she says,
`This dowie death to die,
One kiss o your comely mouth
I\'m sure wad comfort me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.12
\N1 He louted him oer his saddle bow,
To kiss her cheek and chin;
She\'s taen him in her arms twa,
An thrown him headlong in.
\SBALLADS Child 4B.13
\N1 `Since seven king\'s daughters ye\'ve drowned there,
In the water o Wearie\'s Well,
I\'ll make you bridegroom to them a\',
An ring the bell mysell.'
\SBALLADS Child 4B.14
\N1 And aye she warsled, and aye she swam,
And she swam to dry lan;
She thanked God most cheerfully
The dangers she oercame.
\LBALLADS Child 4C.1
\N1 FALSE Sir John a wooing came
To a maid of beauty fair;
May Colven was this lady\'s name,
Her father\'s only heir.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.2
\N1 He wood her butt, he wood her ben,
He wood her in the ha,
Until he got this lady\'s consent
To mount and ride awa.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.3
\N1 He went down to her father\'s bower,
Where all the steeds did stand,
And he\'s taken one of the best steeds
That was in her father\'s land.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.4
\N1 He\'s got on and she\'s got on,
And fast as they could f+lee,
Until they came to a lonesome part,
A rock by the side of the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.5
\N1 `Loup off the steed,' says false Sir John,
`Your bridal bed you see;
For I have drowned seven young ladies,
The eight one you shall be.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.6
\N1 `Cast off, cast off, my May Colven,
All and your silken gown,
For it\'s oer good and oer costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.7
\N1 `Cast off, cast off, my May Colven,
All and your embroiderd shoen,
For they\'re oer good and oer costly
To rot in the salt sea foam.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.8
\N1 `O turn you about, O false Sir John,
And look to the leaf of the tree,
For it never became a gentleman
A naked woman to see.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.9
\N1 He turnd himself straight round about,
To look to the leaf of the tree;
So swift as May Colven was
To throw him in the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.10
\N1 `O help, O help, my May Colven,
O help, or else I\'ll drown;
I\'ll take you home to your father\'s bower,
And set you down safe and sound.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.11
\N1 `No help, no help, O false Sir John,
No help, nor pity thee;
Tho seven king\'s-daughters you have drownd,
But the eight shall not be me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.12
\N1 So she went on her father\'s steed,
As swift as she could f+lee,
And she came home to her father\'s bower
Before it was break of day.
\SBALLADS Child 4C.13
\N1 Up then and spoke the pretty parrot:
`May Colven, where have you been?
What has become of false Sir John,
That woo\'d you so late the streen?
\SBALLADS Child 4C.14
\N1 `He woo\'d you butt, he woo\'d you ben,
He woo\'d you in the ha,
Until he got your own consent
For to mount and gang awa.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.15
\N1 `O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
Lay not the blame upon me;
Your cup shall be of the f+lowered gold,
Your cage of the root of the tree.'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.16
\N1 Up then spake the king himself,
In the bed-chamber where he lay:
`What ails the pretty parrot,
That prattles so long or day?'
\SBALLADS Child 4C.17
\N1 `There came a cat to my cage door,
It almost a worried me,
And I was calling on May Colven
To take the cat from me.'
\LBALLADS Child 4D.1
\N1 O HEARD ye of a bloody knight,
Lived in the south country?
For he has betrayed eight ladies fair
And drowned them in the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.2
\N1 Then next he went to May Collin,
She was her father\'s heir,
The greatest beauty in the land,
I solemnly declare.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.3
\N1 `I am a knight of wealth and might,
Of townlands twenty-three;
And you\'ll be lady of them all,
If you will go with me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.4
\N1 `Excuse me, then, Sir John,' she says;
`To wed I am too young;
Without I have my parents\' leave,
With you I darena gang.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.5
\N1 `Your parents\' leave you soon shall have,
In that they will agree;
For I have made a solemn vow
This night you\'ll go with me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.6
\N1 From below his arm he pulled a charm,
And stuck it in her sleeve,
And he has made her go with him,
Without her parents\' leave.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.7
\N1 Of gold and silver she has got
With her twelve hundred pound,
And the swiftest steed her father had
She has taen to ride upon.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.8
\N1 So privily they went along,
They made no stop or stay,
Till they came to the fatal place
That they call Bunion Bay.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.9
\N1 It being in a lonely place,
And no house there was nigh,
The fatal rocks were long and steep,
And none could hear her cry.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.10
\N1 `Light down,' he said, 'Fair May Collin,
Light down and speak with me,
For here I\'ve drowned eight ladies fair,
And the ninth one you shall be.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.11
\N1 `Is this your bowers and lofty towers,
So beautiful and gay?
Or is it for my gold,' she said,
`You take my life away?'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.12
\N1 `Strip off,' he says, 'Thy jewels f+ine,
So costly and so brave,
For they are too costly and too f+ine
To throw in the sea wave.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.13
\N1 `Take all I have my life to save,
O good Sir John, I pray;
Let it neer be said you killed a maid
Upon her wedding day.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.14
\N1 `Strip off,' he says, 'Thy Holland smock,
That\'s bordered with the lawn,
For it\'s too costly and too f+ine
To rot in the sea sand.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.15
\N1 `O turn about, Sir John,' she said,
`Your back about to me,
For it never was comely for a man
A naked woman to see.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.16
\N1 But as he turned him round about,
She threw him in the sea,
Saying, `Lie you there, you false Sir John,
Where you thought to lay me.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.17
\N1 `O lie you there, you traitor false,
Where you thought to lay me,
For though you stripped me to the skin,
Your clothes you\'ve got with thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.18
\N1 Her jewels f+ine she did put on,
So costly, rich and brave,
And then with speed she mounts his steed,
So well she did behave.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.19
\N1 That lady fair being void of fear,
Her steed being swift and free,
And she has reached her father\'s gate
Before the clock struck three.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.20
\N1 Then f+irst she called the stable groom,
He was her waiting man;
Soon as he heard his lady\'s voice
He stood with cap in hand.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.21
\N1 `Where have you been, fair May Collin?
Who owns this dapple grey?'
`It is a found one,' she replied,
`That I got on the way.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.22
\N1 Then out bespoke the wily parrot
Unto fair May Collin:
`What have you done with false Sir John,
That went with you yestreen?'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.23
\N1 `O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,
And talk no more to me,
And where you had a meal a day
O now you shall have three.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.24
\N1 Then up bespoke her father dear,
From his chamber where he lay:
`What aileth thee, my pretty Poll,
That you chat so long or day?'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.25
\N1 The cat she came to my cage-door,
The thief I could not see,
And I called to fair May Collin,
To take the cat from me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.26
\N1 Then f+irst she told her father dear
The deed that she had done,
And next she told her mother dear
Concerning false Sir John.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.27
\N1 `If this be true, fair May Collin,
That you have told  to me,
Before I either eat or drink
This false Sir John I\'ll see.'
\SBALLADS Child 4D.28
\N1 Away they went with one consent,
At dawning of the day,
Until they came to Carline Sands,
And there his body lay.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.29
\N1 His body tall, by that great fall,
By the waves tossed to and fro,
The diamond ring that he had on
Was broke in pieces two.
\SBALLADS Child 4D.30
\N1 And they have taken up his corpse
To yonder pleasant green,
And there they have buried false Sir John,
For fear he should be seen.
\LBALLADS Child 4E.1
\N1 AN outlandish knight came from the north lands,
And he came a-wooing to me;
He told me he\'d take me unto the north lands,
And there he would marry me.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.2
\N1 `Come, fetch me some of your father\'s gold,
And some of your mother\'s fee,
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stand thirty and three.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.3
\N1 She fetched him some of her father\'s gold,
And some of her mother\'s fee,
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood thirty and three.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.4
\N1 She mounted her on her milk-white steed,
He on the dapple grey;
They rode till they came unto the sea-side,
Three hours before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.5
\N1 `Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,
And deliver it unto me;
Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shalt be.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.6
\N1 `Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks too rich and too gay
To rot in the salt sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.7
\N1 `Pull off, pull off thy silken stays,
And deliver them unto me;
Methinks they are too f+ine and gay
To rot in the salt sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.8
\N1 `Pull off, pull off thy Holland smock,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks too rich and gay
To rot in the salt sea.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.9
\N1 `If I must pull off my Holland smock,
Pray turn thy back unto me;
For it is not f+itting that such a ruff+ian
A naked woman should see.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.10
\N1 He turned his back towards her
And viewed the leaves so green;
She catched him round the middle so small,
And tumbled him into the stream.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.11
\N1 He dropped high and he dropped low,
Until he came to the side;
`Catch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden,
And I will make you my bride.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.12
\N1 `Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
Lie there instead of me;
Six pretty maids have you drowned here,
And the seventh has drowned thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.13
\N1 She mounted on her milk-white steed,
And led the dapple grey;
She rode till she came to her own father\'s hall,
Three hours before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4E.14
\N1 The parrot being in the window so high,
Hearing the lady, did say,
`I\'m afraid that some ruff+ian has led you astray,
That you have tarried so long away.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.15
\N1 `Don\'t prittle nor prattle, my pretty parrot,
Nor tell no tales of me;
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
Although it is made of a tree.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.16
\N1 The king being in the chamber so high,
And hearing the parrot, did say,
`What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
That you prattle so long before day?'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.17
\N1 `It\'s no laughing matter,' the parrot did say,
`That so loudly I call unto thee,
For the cats have got into the window so high,
And I\'m afraid they will have me.'
\SBALLADS Child 4E.18
\N1 `Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,
Well turned, well turned for me;
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
And the door of the best ivory.'
\LBALLADS Child 4F.1
\N1 \R'\rGO fetch me some of your father\'s gold,
And some of your mother\'s fee,
And I\'ll carry you into the north land,
And there I\'ll marry thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.2
\N1 She fetchd him some of her father\'s gold,
And some of her mother\'s fee;
She carried him into the stable,
Where horses stood thirty and three.
\SBALLADS Child 4F.3
\N1 She leapd on a milk-white steed,
And he on a dapple-grey;
They rode til they came to a fair river\'s side,
Three hours before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4F.4
\N1 `O light, O light, you lady gay,
O light with speed, I say,
For six knight\'s daughters have I drowned here,
And you the seventh must be.'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.5
\N1 `Go fetch the sickle, to crop the nettle
That grows so near the brim,
For fear it should tangle my golden locks,
Or freckle my milk-white skin.'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.6
\N1 He fetchd the sickle, to crop the nettle
That grows so near the brim,
And with all the strength that pretty Polly had
She pushd the false knight in.
\SBALLADS Child 4F.7
\N1 `Swim on, swim on, thou false knight,
And there bewail thy doom,
For I don\'t think thy cloathing too good
To lie in a watry tomb.'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.8
\N1 She leaped on her milk-white steed,
She led the dapple grey;
She rid till she came to her father\'s house,
Three hours before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4F.9
\N1 `Who knocked so loudly at the ring?'
The parrot he did say;
`O where have you been, my pretty Polly,
All this long summer\'s day?'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.10
\N1 `O hold your tongue, parrot,
Tell you no tales of me;
Your cage shall be made of beaten gold,
Which is now made of a tree.'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.11
\N1 O then bespoke her father dear,
As he on his bed did lay:
`O what is the matter, my parrot,
That you speak before it is day?'
\SBALLADS Child 4F.12
\N1 `The cat\'s at my cage, master,
And sorely frighted me,
And I calld down my Polly
To take the cat away.'
\LBALLADS Child 4[G.1]
\N1 `Now steal me some of your father\'s gold,
And some of your mother\'s fee,
And steal the best steed in your father\'s stable,
Where there lie thirty three.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.2]
\N1 She stole him some of her father\'s gold,
And some of her mother\'s fee,
And she stole the best steed from her father\'s stable,
Where there lay thirty three.
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.3]
\N1 And she rode on the milk-white steed,
And he on the barb so grey,
Until they came to the green, green wood,
Three hours before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.4]
\N1 `Alight, alight, my pretty colleen,
Alight immediately,
For six knight\'s daughters I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shall be.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.5]
\N1 `Oh hold your tongue, you false knight villain,
Oh hold your tongue,' said she;
`\'Twas you that promised to marry me,
For some of my father\'s fee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.6]
\N1 `Strip off, strip off your jewels so rare,
And give them all to me;
I think them too rich and too costly by far
To rot in the sand with thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.7]
\N1 `Oh turn away, thou false knight villain,
Oh turn away from me;
Oh turn away, with your back to the cliff,
And your face to the willow-tree.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.8]
\N1 He turned about, with his back to the cliff,
And his face to the willow-tree;
So sudden she took him up in her arms,
And threw him into the sea.
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.9]
\N1 `Lie there, lie there, thou false knight villain,
Lie there instead of me;
\'Twas you that promised to marry me,
For some of my father\'s fee.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.10]
\N1 `Oh take me by the arm, my dear,
And hold me by the hand,
And you shall be my gay lady,
And the queen of all Scotland.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.11]
\N1 `I\'ll not take you by the arm, my dear,
Nor hold you by the hand;
And I won\'t be your gay lady,
And the queen of all Scotland.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.12]
\N1 And she rode on the milk-white steed,
And led the barb so grey,
Until she came back to her father\'s castle,
One hour before it was day.
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.13]
\N1 And out then spoke her parrot so green,
From the cage wherein she lay:
Where have you now been, my pretty colleen,
This long, long summer\'s day?
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.14]
\N1 `Oh hold your tongue, my favourite bird,
And tell no tales on me;
Your cage I will make of the beaten gold,
And hang in the willow-tree.'
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.15]
\N1 Out then spoke her father dear,
From the chamber where he lay:
Oh what hath befallen my favourite bird,
That she calls so loud for day?
\SBALLADS Child 4[G.16]
\N1 `\'Tis nothing at all, good lord,' she said,
`\'Tis nothing at all indeed;
It was only the cat came to my cage-door,
And Icalled my pretty colleen.'
\LBALLADS Child 5A.1
\N1 GIL BRENTON has sent oer the fame,
He\'s woo\'d a wife an brought her hame.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.2
\N1 Full sevenscore o ships came her wi,
The lady by the greenwood tree.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.3
\N1 There was twal an twal wi beer an wine,
An twal an twal wi muskadine:
\SBALLADS Child 5A.4
\N1 An twall an twall wi bouted f+lowr,
An twall an twall wi paramour:
\SBALLADS Child 5A.5
\N1 An twall an twall wi baken bread,
An twall an twall wi the goud sae red.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.6
\N1 Sweet Willy was a widow\'s son,
An at her stirrup-foot he did run.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.7
\N1 An she was dressd i the f+inest pa,
But ay she loot the tears down fa.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.8
\N1 An she was dickd wi the fairest f+lowrs,
But ay she loot the tears down pour.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.9
\N1 `O is there water i your shee?
Or does the win blaw i your glee?
\SBALLADS Child 5A.10
\N1 `Or are you mourning i your meed
That eer you left your mither gueede?
\SBALLADS Child 5A.11
\N1 `Or are ye mourning i your tide
That ever ye was Gil Brenton\'s bride?'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.12
`Th<re] is nae water i my shee,
Nor does the win blaw i my glee:
\SBALLADS Child 5A.13
\N1 `Nor am I mourning i my tide
That eer I was Gil Brenton\'s bride:
\SBALLADS Child 5A.14
\N1 `But I am mourning i my meed
That ever I left my mither gueede.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.15
\N1 `But, bonny boy, tell to me
What is the customs o your country.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.16
\N1 `The customs o\'t, my dame,' he says,
`Will ill a gentle lady please.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.17
\N1 `Seven king\'s daughters has our king wedded,
An seven king\'s daughters has our king bedded.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.18
\N1 `But he\'s cutted the paps frae their breast-bane,
An sent them mourning hame again.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.19
\N1 `But whan you come to the palace yate,
His mither a golden chair will set.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.20
\N1 `An be you maid or be you nane,
O sit you there till the day be dane.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.21
\N1 `An gin you\'re sure that you are a maid,
Ye may gang safely to his bed.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.22
\N1 `But gin o that you be na sure,
Then hire some woman o youre bowr.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.23
\N1 O whan she came to the palace yate,
His mither a golden chair did set.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.24
\N1 An was she maid or was she nane,
She sat in it till the day was dane.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.25
\N1 An she\'s calld on her bowr woman,
That waiting was her bowr within.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.26
\N1 `Five hundred pound, maid, I\'ll gi to the,
An sleep this night wi the king for me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.27
\N1 Whan bells was rung, an mass was sung,
An a\' man unto bed was gone,
\SBALLADS Child 5A.28
\N1 Gil Brenton an the bonny maid
Intill ae chamber they were laid.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.29
\N1 `O speak to me, blankets, an speak to me, sheets,
An speak to me, cods, that under me sleeps;
\SBALLADS Child 5A.30
\N1 `Is this a maid that I ha wedded?
Is this a maid that I ha bedded?'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.31
\N1 `It\'s nae a maid that you ha wedded,
But it\'s a maid that you ha bedded.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.32
\N1 `Your lady\'s in her bigly bowr,
An for you she drees mony sharp showr.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.33
\N1 O he has taen him thro the ha,
And on his mither he did ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.34
\N1 `I am the most unhappy man
That ever was in christend lan.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.35
\N1 `I woo\'d a maiden meek an mild,
An I\'ve marryed a woman great wi child.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.36
\N1 `O stay, my son, intill this ha,
An sport you wi your merry men a\'.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.37
\N1 `An I\'ll gang to yon painted bowr,
An see how\'t fares wi yon base whore.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.38
\N1 The auld queen she was stark an strang;
She gard the door f+lee aff the ban.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.39
\N1 The auld queen she was stark an steer;
She gard the door lye i the f+leer.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.40
\N1 `O is your bairn to laird or loon?
Or is it to your father\'s groom?'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.41
\N1 `My bairn\'s na to laird or loon,
Nor is it to my father\'s groom.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.42
\N1 `But hear me, mither, on my knee,
An my hard wierd I\'ll tell to thee.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.43
\N1 `O we were sisters, sisters seven,
We was the fairest under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.44
\N1 `We had nae mair for our seven years wark
But to shape an sue the king\'s son a sark.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.45
\N1 `O it fell on a Saturday\'s afternoon,
Whan a\' our langsome wark was dane,
\SBALLADS Child 5A.46
\N1 `We keist the cavils us amang,
To see which shoud to the greenwood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.47
\N1 `Ohone, alas! for I was youngest,
An ay my wierd it was the hardest.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.48
\N1 `The cavil it did on me fa,
Which was the cause of a\' my wae.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.49
\N1 `For to the greenwood I must gae,
To pu the nut but an the slae;
\SBALLADS Child 5A.50
\N1 `To pu the red rose an the thyme,
To strew my mother\'s bowr and mine.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.51
\N1 `I had na pu\'d a f+lowr but ane,
Till by there came a jelly hind greeme,
\SBALLADS Child 5A.52
\N1 `Wi high-colld hose an laigh-colld shoone,
An he \'peard to be some kingis son.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.53
\N1 `An be I maid or be I nane,
\N1 He kept me there till the day was dane.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.54
\N1 `An be I maid or be I nae,
He kept me there till the close of day.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.55
\N1 `He gae me a lock of yallow hair,
An bade me keep it for ever mair.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.56
\N1 `He gae me a carket o gude black beads,
An bade me keep them against my needs.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.57
\N1 `He gae to me a gay gold ring,
An bade me ke<e>p it aboon a\' thing.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.58
\N1 `He gae to me a little pen-kniffe,
An bade me keep it as my life.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.59
\N1 `What did you wi these tokens rare
That ye got frae that young man there?'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.60
\N1 `O bring that coffer hear to me,
And a\' the tokens ye sal see.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.61
\N1 An ay she ranked, an ay she f+lang,
Till a\' the tokens came till her han.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.62
\N1 `O stay here, daughter, your bowr within,
Till I gae parley wi my son.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.63
\N1 O she has taen her thro the ha,
An on her son began to ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.64
\N1 `What did you wi that gay gold ring
I bade you keep aboon a\' thing?
\SBALLADS Child 5A.65
\N1 `What did you wi that little pen-kniffe
I bade you keep while you had life?
\SBALLADS Child 5A.66
\N1 `What did you wi that yallow hair
I bade you keep for ever mair?
\SBALLADS Child 5A.67
\N1 `What did you wi that good black beeds
I bade you keep against your needs?'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.68
\N1 `I gae them to a lady gay
I met i the greenwood on a day.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.69
\N1 `An I would gi a\' my father\'s lan,
I had that lady my yates within.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.70
\N1 `I would gi a\' my ha\'s an towrs,
I had that bright burd i my bowrs.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.71
\N1 `O son, keep still your father\'s lan;
You hae that lady your yates within.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.72
\N1 `An keep you still your ha\'s an towrs;
You hae that bright burd i your bowrs.'
\SBALLADS Child 5A.73
\N1 Now or a month was come an gone,
This lady bare a bonny young son.
\SBALLADS Child 5A.74
\N1 An it was well written on his breast-bane
`Gil brenton is my father\'s name.'
\LBALLADS Child 5B.1
\N1 COSPATRICK has sent oer the faem,
Cospatrick brought his ladye hame.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.2
\N1 And fourscore ships have come her wi,
The ladye by the grenewood tree.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.3
\N1 There were twal and twal wi baken bread,
And twal and twal wi gowd sae reid:
\SBALLADS Child 5B.4
\N1 And twal and twal wi bouted f+lour,
And twal and twal wi the paramour.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.5
\N1 Sweet Willy was a widow\'s son,
And at her stirrup he did run.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.6
\N1 And she was clad in the f+inest pall,
But aye she let the tears down fall.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.7
\N1 `O is your saddle set awrye?
Or rides your steed for you owre high?
\SBALLADS Child 5B.8
\N1 `Or are you mourning in your tide
That you suld be Cospatrick\'s bride?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.9
\N1 `I am not mourning at this tide
That I suld be Cospatrick\'s bride;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.10
\N1 `But I am sorrowing in my mood
That I suld leave my mother good.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.11
\N1 `But, gentle boy, come tell to me,
What is the custom of thy countrye?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.12
\N1 `The custom thereof, my dame,' he says,
`Will ill a gentle laydye please.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.13
\N1 `Seven king\'s daughters has our lord wedded,
And seven king\'s daughters has our lord bedded;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.14
\N1 `But he\'s cutted their breasts frae their breast bane,
And sent them mourning hame again.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.15
\N1 `Yet, gin you\'re sure that you\'re a maid,
Ye may gae safely to his bed;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.16
\N1 `But gif o that ye be na sure,
Then hire some damsell o your bour.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.17
\N1 The ladye\'s calld her bour-maiden,
That waiting was into her train;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.18
\N1 `Five thousand merks I will gie thee,
To sleep this night with my lord for me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.19
\N1 When bells were rung, and mass was sayne,
And a\' men unto bed were gane,
\SBALLADS Child 5B.20
\N1 Cospatrick and the bonny maid,
Into ae chamber they were laid.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.21
\N1 `Now, speak to me, blankets, and speak to me, bed,
And speak, thou sheet, inchanted web;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.22
\N1 `And speak up, my bonny brown sword, that winna lie,
Is this a true maiden that lies by me?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.23
\N1 `It is not a maid that you hae wedded,
But it is a maid that you hae bedded.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.24
\N1 `It is a liel maiden that lies by thee,
But not the maiden that it should be.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.25
\N1 O wrathfully he left the bed,
And wrathfully his claiths on did.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.26
\N1 And he has taen him thro the ha,
And on his mother he did ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.27
\N1 `I am the most unhappy man
That ever was in christen land!
\SBALLADS Child 5B.28
\N1 `I courted a maiden meik and mild,
And I hae gotten naething but a woman wi child.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.29
\N1 `O stay, my son, into this ha,
And sport ye wi your merrymen a\';
\SBALLADS Child 5B.30
\N1 `And I will to the secret bour,
To see how it fares wi your paramour.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.31
\N1 The carline she was stark and sture;
She aff the hinges dang the dure.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.32
\N1 `O is your bairn to laird or loun?
Or is it to your father\'s groom?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.33
\N1 `O hear me, mother, on my knee,
Till my sad story I tell to thee.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.34
\N1 `O we were sisters, sisters seven,
We were the fairest under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.35
\N1 `It fell on a summer\'s afternoon,
When a\' our toilsome task was done,
\SBALLADS Child 5B.36
\N1 `We cast the kavils us amang,
To see which suld to the grene-wood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.37
\N1 `O hon, alas! for I was youngest,
And aye my wierd it was the hardest.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.38
\N1 `The kavil it on me did fa,
Whilk was the cause of a\' my woe.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.39
\N1 `For to the grene-wood I maun gae,
To pu the red rose and the slae;
\SBALLADS Child 5B.40
\N1 `To pu the red rose and the thyme,
To deck my mother\'s bour and mine.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.41
\N1 `I hadna pu\'d a f+lower but ane,
When by there came a gallant hende,
\SBALLADS Child 5B.42
\N1 `Wi high-colld hose and laigh-colld shoon,
And he seemd to be sum king\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.43
\N1 `And be I maid or be I nae,
He kept me there till the close o day.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.44
\N1 `And be I maid or be I nane,
He kept me there till the day was done.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.45
\N1 `He gae me a lock o his yellow hair,
And bade me keep it ever mair.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.46
\N1 `He gae me a carknet o bonny beads,
And bade me keep it against my needs.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.47
\N1 `He gae to me a gay gold ring,
And bade me keep it abune a\' thing.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.48
\N1 `What did ye wi the tokens rare
That ye gat frae theat gallant there?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.49
\N1 `O bring that coffer unto me,
And a\' the tokens ye sall see.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.50
\N1 `Now stay, daughter, your bour within,
While I gae parley wi my son.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.51
\N1 O she has taen her thro the ha,
And on her son began to ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.52
\N1 `What did you wi the bonny beads
I bade ye keep against your needs?
\SBALLADS Child 5B.53
\N1 `What did you wi the gay gowd ring
I bade ye keep abune a\' thing?'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.54
\N1 `I gae them a\' to a ladye gay
I met in grene-wood on a day.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.55
\N1 `But I wad gie a\' my halls and tours,
I had that ladye within my bours.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.56
\N1 `But I wad gie my very life,
I had that ladye to my wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.57
\N1 `Now keep, my son, your ha\'s and tours;
Ye have that bright burd in your bours.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.58
\N1 `And keep, my son, your very life;
Ye have that ladye to your wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.59
\N1 Now or a month was cum and gane,
The ladye bore a bonny son.
\SBALLADS Child 5B.60
\N1 And \'twas weel written on his breast-bane,
`Cospatrick is my father\'s name.'
\SBALLADS Child 5B.61
\N1 `O rowe my ladye in satin and silk,
And wash my son in the morning milk.'
\LBALLADS Child 5C.1
\N1 WE were sisters, we were seven,
We were the fairest under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.2
\N1 And it was a\' our seven years wark
To sew our father\'s seven sarks.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.3
\N1 And whan our seven years wark was done,
We laid it out upo the green.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.4
\N1 We coost the lotties us amang,
Wha wad to the greenwood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.5
\N1 To pu the lily but and the rose,
To strew witha\' our sisters\' bowers.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.6
\N1 . . . . . I was youngest,
. . . . . my weer was hardest.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.7
\N1 And to the greenwood I bud gae,
. . . . .
\SBALLADS Child 5C.8
\N1 There I met a handsome childe,
. . . . .
\SBALLADS Child 5C.9
\N1 High-coled stockings and laigh-coled shoon,
He bore him like a king\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.10
\N1 An was I weel, or was I wae,
He keepit me a\' the simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.11
\N1 An though I for my hame-gaun sich<t],
He keepit me a\' the simmer night.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.12
\N1 He gae to me a gay gold ring,
And bade me keep it aboon a\' thing.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.13
\N1 He gae to me a cuttie knife,
And bade me keep it as my life:
\SBALLADS Child 5C.14
\N1 Three lauchters o his yellow hair,
For fear we wad neer meet mair.
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5C.15
\N1 Next there came shippes three,
To carry a\' my bridal fee.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.16
\N1 Gowd were the beaks, the sails were silk,
Wrought wi maids\' hands like milk.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.17
\N1 They came toom and light to me,
But heavie went they waie frae me.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.18
They were fu o baken bread,
They were fu of wine sae red.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.19
\N1 My dowry went a\' by the sea,
But I gaed by the grenewode tree.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.20
\N1 An I sighed and made great mane,
As thro the grenewode we rade our lane.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.21
\N1 An I ay siched an wiped my ee,
That eer the grenewode I did see.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.22
\N1 `Is there water in your glove,
Or win into your shoe?
O<r] am I oer low a foot-page
To rin by you, ladie?'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.23
\N1 `O there\'s nae water in my glove,
Nor win into my shoe;
But I am maning for my mither
Wha\'s far awa frae me.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5C.24
\N1 `Gin ye be a maiden fair,
Meikle gude ye will get there.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.25
\N1 `If ye be a maiden but,
Meikle sorrow will ye get.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.26
\N1 `For seven king\'s daughters he hath wedded,
But never wi ane o them has bedded.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.27
\N1 `He cuts the breasts frae their breast-bane,
An sends them back unto their dame.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.28
\N1 `He sets their backs unto the saddle,
An sends them back unto their father.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.29
\N1 `But be ye maiden or be ye nane,
To the gowden chair ye draw right soon.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.30
\N1 `But be ye leman or be ye maiden,
Sit nae down till ye be bidden.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.31
\N1 Was she maiden or was she nane,
To the gowden chair she drew right soon.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.32
Was she leman or was she maiden,
She sat down ere she was bidden.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.33
\N1 Out then spake the lord\'s mother;
Says, `This is not a maiden fair.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.34
\N1 `In that chair nae leal maiden
Eer sits down till they be bidden.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.35
\N1 The Billie Blin then outspake he,
As he stood by the fair ladie.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.36
\N1 `The bonnie may is tired wi riding,
Gaurd her sit down ere she was bidden.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5C.37
\N1 But on her waiting-maid she ca\'d:
`Fair ladie, what\'s your will wi me?'
`O ye maun gie yere maidenheid
This night to an unco lord for me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.38
\N1 `I hae been east, I hae been west,
I hae been far beyond the sea,
But ay, by grenewode or by bower,
I hae keepit my virginitie.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.39
\N1 `But will it for my ladie plead,
I\'ll gie\'t this night to an unco lord.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5C.40
\N1 When bells were rung an vespers sung,
An men in sleep were locked soun,
\SBALLADS Child 5C.41
\N1 Childe Branton and the waiting-maid
Into the bridal bed were laid.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.42
\N1 `O lie thee down, my fair ladie,
Here are a\' things meet for thee;
\SBALLADS Child 5C.43
\N1 `Here\'s a bolster for yere head,
Here is sheets an comelie weids.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5C.44
\N1 `Now tell to me, ye Billie Blin,
If this fair dame be a leal maiden.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.45
\N1 `I wat she is as leal a wight
As the moon shines on in a simmer night.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.46
\N1 `I wat she is as leal a may
As the sun shines on in a simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.47
\N1 `But your bonnie bride\'s in her bower,
Dreeing the mither\'s trying hour.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.48
\N1 Then out o his bridal bed he sprang,
An into his mither\'s bower he ran.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.49
\N1 `O mither kind, O mither dear,
This is nae a maiden fair.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.50
\N1 `The maiden I took to my bride
Has a bairn atween her sides.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.51
\N1 `The maiden I took to my bower
Is dreeing the mither\'s trying hour.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.52
\N1 Then to the chamber his mother f+lew,
And to the wa the door she threw.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.53
\N1 She stapt at neither bolt nor ban,
Till to that ladie\'s bed she wan.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.54
\N1 Says, `Ladie fair, sae meek an mild,
Wha is the father o yere child?'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.55
\N1 `O mither dear,' said that ladie,
`I canna tell gif I sud die.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.56
\N1 `We were sisters, we were seven,
We were the fairest under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.57
\N1 `And it was a\' our seven years wark
To sew our father\'s seven sarks.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.58
\N1 `And whan our seven years wark was done,
We laid it out upon the green.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.59
\N1 `We coost the lotties us amang,
Wha wad to the greenwode gang;
\SBALLADS Child 5C.60
\N1 `To pu the lily but an the rose,
To strew witha\' our sisters\' bowers.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.61
\N1 . . . . . `I was youngest,
. . . . . my weer was hardest.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.62
\N1 `And to the greenwode I bu<d] gae.
. . . .
\SBALLADS Child 5C.63
\N1 `There I met a handsome childe,
. . . .
\SBALLADS Child 5C.64
\N1 `Wi laigh-coled stockings and high-coled shoon,
He seemed to be some king\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.65
\N1 `And was I weel or was I wae,
He keepit me a\' the simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.66
\N1 `Though for my hame-gaun I oft sicht,
He keepit me a\' the simmer night.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.67
\N1 `He gae to me a gay gold ring,
An bade me keep it aboon a\' thing;
\SBALLADS Child 5C.68
\N1 `Three lauchters o he yellow hair,
For fear that we suld neer meet mair.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.69
\N1 `O mither, if ye\'ll believe nae me,
Break up the coffer, an there ye\'ll see.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.70
\N1 An ay she coost, an ay she f+lang,
Till her ain gowd ring came in her hand.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.71
\N1 And scarce aught i the coffer she left,
Till she gat the knife wi the siller heft,
\SBALLADS Child 5C.72
\N1 Three lauchters o his yellow hair,
Knotted wi ribbons dink and rare.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.73
\N1 She cried to her son, `Where is the ring
Your father gave me at our wooing,
An I gae you at your hunting?
\SBALLADS Child 5C.74
\N1 `What did ye wi the cuttie knife,
I bade ye keep it as yere life?'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.75
\N1 `O haud yere tongue, my mither dear;
I gae them to a lady fair.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.76
\N1 `I wad gie a\' my lands and rents,
I had that ladie within my brents.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.77
\N1 `I wad gie a\' my lands an towers,
I had that ladie within my bowers.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.78
\N1 `Keep still yere lands, keep still yere rents;
Ye hae that ladie within yere brents.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.79
\N1 `Keep still yere lands, keep still yere towers;
Ye hae that lady within your bowers.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.80
\N1 Then to his ladie fast ran he,
An low he kneeled on his knee.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.81
\N1 `O tauk ye up my son,' said he,
`An, mither, tent my fair ladie.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.82
\N1 `O wash him purely i the milk,
And lay him saftly in the silk.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.83
\N1 `An ye maun bed her very soft,
For I maun kiss her wondrous oft.'
\SBALLADS Child 5C.84
\N1 It was weel written on his breast-bane
Childe Branton was the father\'s name.
\SBALLADS Child 5C.85
\N1 It was weel written on his right hand
He was the heir o his daddie\'s land.
\LBALLADS Child 5D.1
\N1 WE were sisters, sisters seven,
\SBALLADS Child 5D.1r
\N1 Bowing down, bowing down
\SBALLADS Child 5D.1
\N2 The fairest women under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.1r
\N2 And aye the birks a-bowing
\SBALLADS Child 5D.2
\N1 They kiest kevels them amang,
Wha woud to the grenewood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.3
\N1 The kevels they gied thro the ha,
And on the youngest it did fa.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.4
\N1 Now she must to the grenewood gang,
To pu the nuts in grenewood hang.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.5
\N1 She hadna tarried an hour but ane
Till she met wi a highlan groom.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.6
\N1 He keeped her sae late and lang
Till the evening set and birds they sang.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.7
\N1 He gae to her at their parting
A chain o gold and gay gold ring;
\SBALLADS Child 5D.8
\N1 And three locks o his yellow hair;
Bade her keep them for evermair.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.9
\N1 When six lang months were come and gane.
A courtier to this lady came.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.10
\N1 Lord Dingwall courted this lady gay,
And so he set their wedding-day.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.11
\N1 A little boy to the ha was sent,
To bring her horse was his intent.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.12
\N1 As she was riding the way along,
She began to make a heavy moan.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.13
\N1 `What ails you, lady,' the boy said,
`That ye seem sae dissatisf+ied?
\SBALLADS Child 5D.14
\N1 `Are the bridle reins for you too strong?
Or the stirrups for you too long?'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.15
\N1 `But, little boy, will ye tell me
The fashions that are in your countrie?'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.16
\N1 `The fashions in our ha I\'ll tell,
And o them a\' I\'ll warn you well.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.17
\N1 `When ye come in upon the f+loor,
His mither will meet you wi a golden chair.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.18
\N1 `But be ye maid or be ye nane,
Unto the high seat make ye boun.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.19
\N1 `Lord Dingwall aft has been beguild
By girls whom young men hae def+iled.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.20
\N1 `He\'s cutted the paps frae their breast-bane,
And sent them back to their ain hame.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.21
\N1 When she came in upon the f+loor,
His mother met her wi a golden chair.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.22
\N1 But to the high seat she made her boun:
She knew that maiden she was nane.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.23
\N1 When night was come, they went to bed,
And ower her breast his arm he laid.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.24
\N1 He quickly jumped upon the f+loor,
And said, `I\'ve got a vile rank whore.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.25
\N1 Unto his mother he made his moan,
Says, `Mother dear, I am undone.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.26
\N1 `Ye\'ve aft tald, when I brought them hame,
Whether they were maid or nane.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.27
\N1 `I thought I\'d gotten a maiden bright;
I\'ve gotten but a waefu wight.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.28
\N1 `I thought I\'d gotten  a maiden clear,
But gotten but a vile rank whore.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.29
\N1 `When she came in upon the f+loor,
I met her wi a golden chair.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.30
\N1 `But to the high seat she made her boun,
Because a maiden she was nane.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.31
\N1 `I wonder wha\'s tauld that gay ladie
The fashion into our countrie.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.32
\N1 `It is your little boy I blame,
Whom ye did send to bring her hame.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.33
\N1 Then to the lady she did go,
And said, `O Lady, let me know
\SBALLADS Child 5D.34
\N1 `Who has def+iled your fair bodie:
Ye\'re the f+irst that has beguiled me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.35
\N1 `O we were sisters, sisters seven,
The fairest women under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.36
\N1 `And we kiest kevels us amang,
Wha woud to the grenewood gang;
\SBALLADS Child 5D.37
\N1 `For to pu the f+inest f+lowers,
To put around our summer bowers.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.38
\N1 `I was the youngest o them a\';
The hardest fortune did me befa.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.39
\N1 `Unto the grenewood I did gang,
And pu\'d the nuts as they down hang.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.40
\N1 `I hadna stayd an hour but ane
Till I met wi a highlan groom.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.41
\N1 `He keeped me sae late and lang
Till the evening set and birds they sang.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.42
\N1 `He gae to me at our parting
A chain of gold and gay gold ring;
\SBALLADS Child 5D.43
\N1 `And three locks o his yellow hair;
Bade me keep them for evermair.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.44
\N1 `Then for to show I make nae lie,
Look ye my trunk, and ye will see.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.45
\N1 Unto the trunk then she did go,
To see if that were true or no.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.46
\N1 And aye she sought, and aye she f+lang,
Till these four things came to her hand.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.47
\N1 Then she did to her ain son go,
And said, `My son, ye\'ll let me know,
\SBALLADS Child 5D.48
\N1 `Ye will tell to me this thing:
What did you wi my wedding-ring?'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.49
\N1 `Mother dear, I\'ll tell nae lie:
I gave it to a gay ladie.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.50
\N1 `I would gie a\' my ha\'s and towers,
I had this bird within my bowers.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.51
\N1 `Keep well, keep well your lands and strands;
Ye hae that bird within your hands.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.52
\N1 `Now, my son, to your bower ye\'ll go:
Comfort your ladie, she\'s full o woe.'
\SBALLADS Child 5D.53
\N1 Now when nine months were come and gane,
The lady she brought hame a son.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.54
\N1 It was written on his breast-bane
Lord Dingwall was his father\'s name.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.55
\N1 He\'s taen his young son in his arms,
And aye he praisd his lovely charms.
\SBALLADS Child 5D.56
\N1 And he has gien him kisses three,
And doubled them ower to his ladie.
\LBALLADS Child 5E.1
\N1 LORD BENWALL he\'s a hunting gone;
\SBALLADS Child 5E.1r
\N1 Hey down, etc\.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.1
\N2 He\'s taken with him all his merry men.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.1r
\N1 Hey, etc\.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.2
\N1 As he was walking late alone,
He spyed a lady both brisk and young.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.3
\N1 He keeped her so long and long,
From the evening late till the morning came.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.4
\N1 All that he gave her at their parting
Was a pair of gloves and a gay gold ring.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.5
\N1 Lord Benwall he\'s a wooing gone,
And he\'s taken with him all his merry men.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.6
\N1 As he was walking the Haleigh throw,
He spy\'d seven ladyes all in a row.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.7
\N1 He cast a lot among them all;
Upon the youngest the lot did fall.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.8
\N1 He wedded her and brought her home,
And by the way she made great moan.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.9
\N1 `What aileth my dearest and dayly f+lower?
What ails my dear, to make such moan?
\SBALLADS Child 5E.10
\N1 `Does the steed carry you too high?
Or does thy pillow sit awry?
\SBALLADS Child 5E.11
\N1 `Or does the wind blow in thy glove?
Or is thy heart after another love?'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.12
\N1 `The steed does not carry me too high,
Nor does my pillow sit awry.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.13
\N1 `Nor does the wind blow in my glove,
Nor is my heart after another love.'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.14
\N1 When they were doun to supper set,
The weary pain took her by the back.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.15
\N1 `What ails my dearest and dayly f+lower?
What ails my dearest, to make such moan?'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.16
\N1 `I am with child, and it\'s not to thee,
And oh and alas, what shall I doe!'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.17
\N1 `I thought I had got a maid so mild;
But I have got a woman big with child.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.18
\N1 `I thought I had got a dayly f+lower;
I have gotten but a common whore.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5E.19
\N1 `Rise up, Lord Benwall, go to your hall,
And cherrish up your merry men all.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5E.20
\N1 `As I was walking once late alone,
I spy\'d a lord, both brisk and young.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.21
\N1 `He keeped me so long and long,
From evening late till the morning came.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.22
\N1 `All that he gave me at our parting
Was a pair of gloves and a gay gold ring.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.23
\N1 `If you will not believe what I tell to thee,
There\'s the key of my coffer, you may go and see.'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.24
\N1 His mother went, and threw and f+lang,
Till to her hand the ring it came.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.25
\N1 `Lord Benwall, wilt thou tell to me
Where is the ring I gave to thee?'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.26
\N1 `Now I would give all my lands and tower,
To have that lady in my bower.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.27
\N1 `I would give all my lands and rents,
To have that lady in my tents.'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.28
\N1 `You need not give all your lands and tower,
For you have that lady in your power.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.29
\N1 `You need not give all your lands and rents,
For you have that lady in your tents.'
\SBALLADS Child 5E.30
\N1 Now it was written on the child\'s breast-bone
Lord Benwall\'s sirname and his name.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.31
\N1 It was written on the child\'s right hand
That he should be heir of Lord Benwall\'s land.
\SBALLADS Child 5E.32
\N1 `Canst cloath my lady in the silk,
And feed my young son with the milk.'
\LBALLADS Child 5F.1
\N1 THERE were three sisters in a bouir,
\SBALLADS Child 5F.1r
\N1 Eh down and Oh down
\SBALLADS Child 5F.1
\N2 And the youngest o them was the fairest f+lour.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.1r
\N2 Eh down and O down
\SBALLADS Child 5F.2
\N1 And we began our seven years wark,
To sew our brither John a sark.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.3
\N1 When seven years was come and gane,
There was nae a sleeve in it but ane.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.4
\N1 But we coost kevils us amang
Wha wud to the green-wood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.5
\N1 But tho we had coosten neer sae lang,
The lot it fell on me aye to gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.6
\N1 I was the youngest, and I was the fairest,
And alace! my wierd it was aye the sairest.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.7
\N1 . . .
Till I had to the woods to gae.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.8
\N1 To pull the cherrie and the slae,
And to seek our ae brither, we had nae mae.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.9
\N1 But as I was walking the leas o Lyne,
I met a youth gallant and f+ine;
\SBALLADS Child 5F.10
\N1 Wi milk white stockings and coal black shoon;
He seemed to be some gay lord\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.11
\N1 But he keepit me there sae lang, sae lang,
Till the maids in the morning were singing their sang.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.12
\N1 Would I wee or would I way,
He keepit me the lang simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.13
\N1 Would I way or would I wight,
He keepit me the simmer night.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.14
\N1 But guess what was at our parting?
A pair o grass green gloves and a gay gold ring.
ring.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.15
\N1 He gave me three plaits o his yellow hair,
In token that we might meet mair.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.16
\N1 But when nine months were come and gane,
This gallant lord cam back again.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.17
\N1 He\'s wed this lady, and taen her wi him;
But as they were riding the leas o Lyne,
\SBALLADS Child 5F.18
\N1 This lady was not able to ride,
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 5F.19
\N1 `O does thy saddle set thee aside?
Or does thy steed ony wrang way ride?
\SBALLADS Child 5F.20
\N1 `Or thinkst thou me too low a groom?
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 5F.21
\N1 `Or hast thou musing in thy mind
For the leaving of thy mother kind?'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.22
\N1 `My saddle it sets not me aside,
Nor does my steed ony wrang way ride.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.23
\N1 `Nor think I thee too low a groom
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 5F.24
\N1 `But I hae musing in my mind
For the leaving of my mother kind.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.25
\N1 `I\'ll bring thee to a mother of mine,
As good a mother as eer was thine.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.26
\N1 `A better mother she may be,
But an unco woman she\'ll prove to me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.27
\N1 But when lords and ladies at supper sat,
Her pains they struck her in the back.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.28
\N1 When lords and ladies were laid in bed,
Her pains they struck her in the side.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.29
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, now, Lord Brangwill,
For I\'m wi child and you do not know\'t.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.30
\N1 He took up his foot and gave her sic a bang
Till owre the bed the red blood sprang.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.31
\N1 He is up to his mother\'s ha,
Calling her as hard as he could ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.32
\N1 `I went through moss and I went through mure,
Thinking to get some lily f+louir.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.33
\N1 . . .
`But to my house I have brocht a hure.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.34
\N1 `I thocht to have got a lady baith meek and mild,
But I\'ve got a woman that\'s big wi child.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.35
\N1 `O rest you here, Lord Brangwill,' she said,
`Till I relieve your lady that lyes so low.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.36
\N1 `O daughter dear, will you tell to me
Who is the father of your babie?'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.37
\N1 `Yes, mother dear, I will tell thee
Who is the father of my babie.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.38
\N1 `As I was  walking the leas o Lyne,
I met a youth gallant and f+ine;
\SBALLADS Child 5F.39
`With milk-white stockings and coal-black shoon;
He seemed to be sum gay lord\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.40
\N1 `He keepit me sae lang, sae lang,
Till the maids in the morning were singing their sang.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.41
\N1 `Would I wee or would I way,
He keepit me the lang simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.42
\N1 `Would I way or would I wight,
He keepit me the simmer night.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.43
\N1 `But guess ye what was at our parting?
A pair of grass green gloves and a gay gold ring.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.44
\N1 `He gave me three plaits o his yellow hair,
In token that we might meet mair.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.45
\N1 `O dochter dear, will ye show me
These tokens that he gave to thee?'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.46
\N1 `Altho my back should break in three,
Unto my coffer I must be.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.47
\N1 `Thy back it shall not break in three,
For I\'ll bring thy coffer to thy knee.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.48
\N1 Aye she coost, and aye she f+lang,
Till these three tokens came to her hand.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.49
\N1 Then she is up to her sons\'s ha,
Calling him hard as she could ca.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.50
\N1 `O son, O son, will you tell me
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 5F.51
\N1 `What ye did wi the grass green gloves and gay gold ring
That ye gat at your own birth-een?'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.52
\N1 `I gave them to as pretty a may
As ever I saw in a simmer day.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.53
\N1 `I wud rather than a\' my lands sae broad
That I had her as sure as eer I had.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.54
\N1 `I would rather than a\' my lands sae free
I had her here this night wi me.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.55
\N1 `I wish you good o your lands sae broad,
For ye have her as sure as eer ye had.
\SBALLADS Child 5F.56
\N1 `I wish ye good o your lands sae free,
For ye have her here this night wi thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.57
\N1 `Gar wash my auld son in the milk,
Gar deck my lady\'s bed wi silk.'
\SBALLADS Child 5F.58
\N1 He gave his auld son kisses three,
But he doubled them a\' to his gay ladye.
\LBALLADS Child 5G.1
\N1 AS Bothwell was walking in the lowlands alane,
\SBALLADS Child 5G.1r
\N1 Hey down and a down
\SBALLADS Child 5G.1
\N2 He met six ladies sae gallant and f+ine.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.1r
\N2 Hey down and a down
\SBALLADS Child 5G.2
\N1 He cast his lot among them a\',
And on the youngest his lot did fa.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.3
\N1 He\'s brought her frae her mother\'s bower,
Unto his strongest castle and tower.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.4
\N1 But ay she cried and made great moan,
And ay the tear came trickling down.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.5
\N1 `Come up, come up,' said the foremost man,
`I think our bride comes slowly on.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.6
\N1 `O lady, sits your saddle awry,
Or is your steed for you owre high?'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.7
\N1 `My saddle is not set awry,
Nor carries me my steed owre high;
\SBALLADS Child 5G.8
\N1 `But I am weary of my life,
Since I maun be Lord Bothwell\'s wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.9
\N1 He\'s blawn his horn sae sharp and shrill,
Up start the deer on evry hill.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.10
\N1 He\'s blawn his horn sae lang and loud,
Up start the deer in gude green-wood.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.11
\N1 His lady mother lookit owre the castle wa,
And she saw them riding ane and a\'.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.12
\N1 She\'s calld upon her maids by seven,
To mak his bed baith saft and even.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.13
\N1 She\'s calld upon her cooks by nine,
To make their dinner fair and f+ine.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.14
\N1 When day was gane, and night was come,
`What ails my love on me to frown?
\SBALLADS Child 5G.15
\N1 `Or does the wind blow in your glove?
Or runs your mind on another love?'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.16
\N1 `Nor blows the wind within my glove,
Nor runs my mind on another love;
\SBALLADS Child 5G.17
\N1 `But I nor maid nor maiden am,
For I\'m wi bairn to another man.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.18
\N1 `I thought I\'d a maiden sae meek and sae mild,
But I\'ve nought but a woman wi child.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.19
\N1 His mother\'s taen her up to a tower,
And lockit her in her secret bower.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.20
\N1 `Now, doughter mine, come tell to me,
Wha\'s bairn this is that you are wi.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.21
\N1 `O mother dear, I canna learn
Wha is the faither of my bairn.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.22
\N1 `But as I walkd in the lowlands my lane,
I met a gentleman gallant and f+ine.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.23
\N1 `He keepit me there sae late and sae lang,
Frae the evning late till the morning dawn.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.24
\N1 `And a\' that he gied me to my propine
Was a pair of green gloves and a gay gold ring;
\SBALLADS Child 5G.25
\N1 `Three lauchters of his yellow hair,
In case that we shoud meet nae mair.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.26
\N1 His lady mother went down the stair:
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 5G.27
\N1 `Now son, now son, come tell to me,
Where\'s the green gloves I gave to thee?'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.28
\N1 `I gied to a lady sae fair and so f+ine
The green gloves and a gay gold ring.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.29
\N1 `But I wad gie my castles and towers,
I had that lady within my bowers.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.30
\N1 `But I wad gie my very life,
I had that lady to be my wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.31
\N1 `Now keep, now keep your castles and towers,
You have that lady within your bowers.
\SBALLADS Child 5G.32
\N1 `Now keep, now keep your very life,
You have that lady to be your wife.'
\SBALLADS Child 5G.33
\N1 `O row my lady in sattin and silk,
And wash my son in the morning milk.'
\LBALLADS Child 5H.1
\N1 WE were seven sisters in a bower,
\SBALLADS Child 5H.1r
\N1 Adown adown, and adown and adown
\SBALLADS Child 5H.1
\N2 The f+lower of a\' fair Scotland ower.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.1r
\N2 Adown adown, and adown and adown
\SBALLADS Child 5H.2
\N1 We were sisters, sisters seven,
The fairest women under heaven.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.3
\N1 There fell a dispute us amang,
Wha would to the greenwood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.4
\N1 They kiest the kevels them amang,
O wha would to the greenwood gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.5
\N1 The kevels they gied thro the ha,
And on the youngest it did fa.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.6
\N1 The kevel fell into her hand,
To greenwood she was forced to gang.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.7
\N1 She hedna pued a f+lower but ane,
When by there came an earl\'s son.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.8
\N1 `And was he well or was he wae,
He keepet me that summer\'s day.'
\SBALLADS Child 5H.9
\N1 And was he weel or was he weight,
He keepet her that summer\'s night.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.10
\N1 And he gave her a gay goud ring
His mother got at her wedding.
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5H.11
\N1 `Oh is yer stirrup set too high?
Or is your saddle set awry?
\SBALLADS Child 5H.12
\N1 `Oh is yer stirrup set too side?
Or what\'s the reason ye canna ride?'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 5H.13
\N1 When all were at the table set,
Then not a bit could this lady eat.
\SBALLADS Child 5H.14
\N1 When all made merry at the feast,
This lady wished she were at her rest.
* * * * *
\LBALLADS Child 6A.1
\N1 WILLIE has taen him oer the fame,
He\'s woo\'d a wife and brought her hame.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.2
\N1 He\'s woo\'d her for her yellow hair,
But his mother wrought her mickle care.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.3
\N1 And mickle dolour gard her dree,
For lighter she can never be.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.4
\N1 But in her bower she sits wi pain,
And Willie mourns oer her in vain.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.5
\N1 And to his mother he has gone,
That vile rank witch of vilest kind.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.6
\N1 He says: `My ladie has a cup,
Wi gowd and silver set about.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.7
\N1 `This goodlie gift shall be your ain,
And let her be lighter o her young bairn.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.8
\N1 `Of her young bairn she\'ll neer be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.9
\N1 `But she shall die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed another may.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.10
\N1 `Another may I\'ll never wed,
Another may I\'ll neer bring home.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.11
\N1 But sighing says that weary wight,
`I wish my life were at an end.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.12
\N1 `Ye doe [ye] unto your mother again,
That vile rank witch of vilest kind.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.13
\N1 `And say your ladie has a steed,
The like o\'m\'s no in the lands of Leed.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.14
\N1 `For he [i>s golden shod before,
And he [i>s golden shod behind.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.15
\N1 `And at ilka tet of that horse\'s main,
There\'s a golden chess and a bell ringing.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.16
\N1 `This goodlie gift shall be your ain,
And let me be lighter of my young bairn.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.17
\N1 `O her young bairn she\'ll neer be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.18
\N1 `But she shall die and turn to clay,
And ye shall wed another may.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.19
\N1 `Another may I<\'ll] never wed,
Another may I<\'ll] neer bring hame.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.20
\N1 But sighing said that weary wight,
`I wish my life were at an end.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.21
\N1 `Ye doe [ye] unto your mother again,
That vile rank witch of vilest kind.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.22
\N1 `And say your ladie has a girdle,
It\'s red gowd unto the middle.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.23
\N1 `And ay at every silver hem,
Hangs f+ifty silver bells and ten.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.24
\N1 `That goodlie gift has be her ain,
And let me be lighter of my young bairn.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.25
\N1 `O her young bairn she\'s neer be lighter,
Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.26
\N1 `But she shall die and turn to clay,
And you shall wed another may.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.27
\N1 `Another may I\'ll never wed,
Another may I\'ll neer bring hame.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.28
\N1 But sighing says that weary wight,
`I wish my life were at an end.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.29
\N1 Then out and spake the Belly Blind;
He spake aye in good time.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.30
\N1 `Ye doe ye to the market place,
And there ye buy a loaf o wax.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.31
\N1 `Ye shape it bairn and bairnly like,
And in twa glassen een ye pit;
\SBALLADS Child 6A.32
\N1 `And bid her come to your boy\'s christening;
Then notice weel what she shall do.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.33
\N1 `And do you stand a little fore bye,
And listen weel what she shall say.'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.34
\N1 `Oh wha has loosed the nine witch knots
That was amo that ladie\'s locks?
\SBALLADS Child 6A.35
\N1 `And wha has taen out the kaims of care
That hangs amo that ladie\'s hair?
\SBALLADS Child 6A.36
\N1 `And wha\'s taen down the bush o woodbine
That hang atween her bower and mine?
\SBALLADS Child 6A.37
\N1 `And wha has killd the master kid
That ran beneath that ladie\'s bed?
\SBALLADS Child 6A.38
\N1 `And wha has loosed her left-foot shee,
And lotten that ladie lighter be?'
\SBALLADS Child 6A.39
\N1 O Willie has loosed the nine witch knots
That was amo that ladie\'s locks.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.40
\N1 And Willie\'s taen out the kaims o care
That hang amo that ladie\'s hair.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.41
\N1 And Willie\'s taen down the bush o woodbine
That hang atween her bower and thine.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.42
\N1 And Willie has killed the master kid
That ran beneath that ladie\'s bed.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.43
\N1 And Willie has loosed her left-foot shee,
And letten his ladie lighter be.
\SBALLADS Child 6A.44
\N1 And now he\'s gotten a bonny young son,
And mickle grace be him upon.
\LBALLADS Child 7A.1
\N1 OH did ye ever hear o brave Earl Bran?
\SBALLADS Child 7A.1r
\N1 Ay lally, o lilly lally
\SBALLADS Child 7A.1
\N2 He courted the king\'s daughter of fair England.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.1r
\N2 All i the night sae early
\SBALLADS Child 7A.2
\N1 She was scarcely f+ifteen years of age
Till sae boldly she came to his bedside.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.3
\N1 `O Earl Bran, fain wad I see
A pack of hounds let loose on the lea.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.4
\N1 `O lady, I have no steeds but one,
And thou shalt ride, and I will run.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.5
\N1 `O Earl Bran, my father has two,
And thou shall have the best o them a.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.6
\N1 They have ridden oer moss and moor,
And they met neither rich nor poor.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.7
\N1 Until they met with old Carl Hood;
He comes for ill, but never for good.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.8
\N1 `Earl Bran, if ye love me,
Seize this old carl, and gar him die.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.9
\N1 `O lady fair, it wad be sair,
To slay an old man that has grey hair.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.10
\N1 `O lady fair, I\'ll no do sae;
I\'ll gie him a pound, and let him gae.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.11
\N1 `O where hae ye ridden this lee lang day?
Or where hae ye stolen this lady away?'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.12
\N1 `I have not ridden this lee lang day.
Nor yet have I stolen this lady away.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.13
\N1 `She is my only, my sick sister,
Whom I have brought from Winchester.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.14
\N1 `If she be sick, and like to dead,
Why wears she the ribbon sae red?
\SBALLADS Child 7A.15
\N1 `If she be sick, and like to die,
Then why wears she the gold on high?'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.16
\N1 When he came to his lady\'s gate,
Sae rudely as he rapped at it.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.17
\N1 `O where\'s the lady o this ha?'
`She\'s out with her maids to play at the ba.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.18
\N1 `Ha, ha, ha! ye are a\' mistaen:
Gae count your maidens oer again.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.19
\N1 `I saw her far beyond the moor,
Away to be the Earl o Bran\'s whore.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.20
\N1 The father armed f+ifteen of his best men,
To bring his daughter back again.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.21
\N1 Oer her left shoulder the lady looked then:
`O Earl Bran, we both are tane.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.22
\N1 `If they come on me ane by ane,
Ye may stand by and see them slain.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.23
\N1 `But if they come on me one and all,
Ye may stand by and see me fall.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.24
\N1 They have come on him ane by ane,
And he has killed them all but ane.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.25
\N1 And that ane came behind his back,
And he\'s gien him a deadly whack.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.26
\N1 But for a\' sae wounded as Earl Bran was,
He has set his lady on her horse.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.27
\N1 They rode till they came to the water o Doune,
And then he alighted to wash his wounds.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.28
\N1 `O Earl Bran, I see your heart\'s blood!'
\'Tis but the gleat o my scarlet hood.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.29
\N1 They rode till they came to his mother\'s gate,
And sae rudely as he rapped at it.
\SBALLADS Child 7A.30
\N1 `O my son\'s slain, my son\'s put down,
And a\' for the sake of an English loun.'
\SBALLADS Child 7A.31
\N1 `O say not sae, my dear mother,
But marry her to my youngest brother.
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 7A.32
\N1 `This has not been the death o ane,
But it\'s been that of fair seventeen.'
* * * * *
\LBALLADS Child 7B.1
\N1 `RISE up, rise up, now, Lord Douglas,' she says,
`And put on your armour so bright;
Let it never be said that a daughter of thine
Was married to a lord under night.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.2
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons,
And put on your armour so bright,
And take better care of your youngest sister,
For your eldest\'s awa the last night.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.3
\N1 He\'s mounted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on a dapple grey,
With a bugelet horn hung down by his side,
And lightly they rode away.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.4
\N1 Lord William lookit oer his left shoulder,
To see what he could see,
And there he spy\'d her seven brethren bold,
Come riding over the lee.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.5
\N1 `Light down, light down, Lady Margret,' he said,
`And hold my steed in your hand,
Until that against your seven brethren bold,
And your father, I mak a stand.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.6
\N1 She held his steed in her milk-white hand,
And never shed one tear,
Until that she saw her seven brethren fa,
And her father hard f+ighting, who lovd her so dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.7
\N1 `O hold your hand, Lord William!' she said,
`For your strokes they are wondrous sair;
True lovers I can get many a ane,
But a father I can never get mair.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.8
\N1 O she\'s taen out her handkerchief,
It was o the holland sae f+ine,
And aye she dighted her father\'s bloody wounds,
That were redder than the wine.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.9
\N1 `O chuse, O chuse, Lady Margret,' he said,
`O whether will ye gang or bide?'
`I\'ll gang, I\'ll gang, Lord William,' she said,
`For ye have left me no other guide.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.10
\N1 He\'s lifted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on a dapple grey,
With a bugelet horn hung down by his side,
And slowly they baith rade away.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.11
\N1 O they rade on, and on they rade,
And a\' by the light of the moon,
Until they came to yon wan water,
And there they lighted down.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.12
\N1 They lighted down to tak a drink
Of the spring that ran sae clear,
And down the stream ran his gude heart\'s blood,
And sair she gan to fear.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.13
\N1 `Hold up, hold up, Lord William,' she says,
`For I fear that you are slain;'
`\'Tis naething but the shadow of my scarlet cloak,
That shines in the water sae plain.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.14
\N1 O they rade on, and on they rade,
And a\' by the light of the moon,
Until they cam to his mother\'s ha door,
And there they lighted down.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.15
\N1 `Get up, get up, lady mother,' he says,
`Get up, and let me in!
Get up, get up, lady mother,' he says,
`For this night my fair lady I\'ve win.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.16
\N1 `O mak my bed, lady mother,' he says,
`O mak it braid and deep,
And lay Lady Margret close at my back,
And the sounder I will sleep.'
\SBALLADS Child 7B.17
\N1 Lord William was dead lang ere midnight,
Lady Margret lang ere day,
And all true lovers that go thegither,
May they have mair luck than they!
\SBALLADS Child 7B.18
\N1 Lord William was buried in St. Mary\'s kirk,
Lady Margret in Mary\'s quire;
Out o the lady\'s grave grew a bonny red rose,
And out o the knight\'s a briar.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.19
\N1 And they twa met, and they twa plat,
And fain they wad be near;
And a\' the warld might ken right weel
They were twa lovers dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7B.20
\N1 But bye and rade the Black Douglas,
And wow but he was rough!
For he pulld up the bonny brier,
And f+lang\'t in St. Mary\'s Loch.
\LBALLADS Child 7C.1
\N1 `RISE up, rise up, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
Earl Douglas will hae Lady Margaret awa
Before that it be light.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.2
\N1 `Arise, arise, my seven brave sons,
And dress in your armour so bright;
It shall never be said that a daughter of mine
Shall go with an earl or a knight.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.3
\N1 `O will ye stand, fair Margaret,' he says,
`And hold my milk-white steed,
Till I f+ight your father and seven brethren,
In yonder pleasant mead?'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.4
\N1 She stood and held his milk-white steed,
She stood trembling with fear,
Until she saw her seven brethren fall,
And her father that loved her dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.5
\N1 `Hold your hand, Earl Douglas,' she says,
`Your strokes are wonderous sair;
I may get sweethearts again enew,
But a father I\'ll ne\'er get mair.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.6
\N1 She took  out a handkerchief
Was made o\' the cambrick f+ine,
And aye she wiped her father\'s bloody wounds,
And the blood sprung up like wine.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.7
\N1 `Will ye go, fair Margaret?' he said,
`Will ye now go, or bide?'
`Yes, I\'ll go, sweet William,' she said,
`For ye\'ve left me never a guide.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.8
\N1 `If I were to go to my mother\'s house,
A welcome guest I would be;
But for the bloody deed that\'s done this day
I\'ll rather go with thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.9
\N1 He lifted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple gray;
They drew their hats out over their face,
And they both went weeping away.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.10
\N1 They rode, they rode, and they better rode,
Till they came to yon water wan;
They lighted down to gie their horse a drink
Out of the running stream.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.11
\N1 `I am afraid, Earl Douglas,' she said,
`I am afraid ye are slain;'
I think I see your bonny heart\'s blood
Running down the water wan.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.12
\N1 `Oh no, oh no, fair Margaret,' he said,
`Oh no, I am not slain;
It is but the scad of my scarlet cloak
Runs down the water wan.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.13
\N1 He mounted her on a milk-white steed
And himself on a dapple gray,
And they have reached Earl Douglas\' gates
Before the break of day.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.14
\N1 `O rise, dear mother, and make my bed,
And make it braid and wide,
And lay me down to take my rest,
And at my back my bride.'
\SBALLADS Child 7C.15
\N1 She has risen and made his bed,
She made it braid and wide;
She laid him down to take his rest,
And at his back his bride.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.16
\N1 Lord William died ere it was day,
Lady Margaret on the morrow;
Lord William died through loss of blood and wounds,
Fair Margaret died with sorrow.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.17
\N1 The one was buried in Mary\'s kirk,
The other in Mary\'s quire;
The one sprung up a bonnie bush,
And the other a bonny brier.
\SBALLADS Child 7C.18
\N1 These twa grew, and these twa threw,
Till they came to the top,
And when they could na farther gae,
They coost the lovers\' knot.
\LBALLADS Child 7D.1
\N1 `SLEEPST thou or wakst thou, Lord Montgomerie,
Sleepst thou or wakst thou, I say?
Rise up, make a match for your eldest daughter,
For the youngest I carry away.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.2
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons,
Dress yourselves in the armour sae f+ine;
For it ne\'er shall be said that a churlish knight
Eer married a daughter of mine.'
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 7D.3
\N1 `Loup aff, loup aff, Lady Margaret,' he said,
`And hold my steed in your hand,
And I will go f+ight your seven brethren,
And your father, where they stand.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.4
\N1 Sometimes she gaed, sometimes she stood,
But never dropt a tear,
Until she saw her brethren all slain,
And her father who lovd her so dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7D.5
\N1 `Hold thy hand, sweet William,' she says,
`Thy blows are wondrous sore;
Sweethearts I may have many a one,
But a father I\'ll never have more.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.6
\N1 O she\'s taken her napkin frae her pocket,
Was made o the holland f+ine,
And ay as she dichted her father\'s bloody wounds,
They sprang as red as the wine.
\SBALLADS Child 7D.7
\N1 `Two chooses, two chooses, Lady Margret,' he says,
`Two chooses I\'ll make thee;
Whether to go back to your mother again,
Or go along with me.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.8
\N1 `For to go home to my mother again,
An unwelcome guest I\'d be;
But since my fate has ordered it so,
I\'ll go along with thee.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.9
\N1 He has mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself on the dapple gray,
And blawn his horn baith loud and shill,
And it sounded far on their way.
\SBALLADS Child 7D.10
\N1 They rode oer hill, they rode oer dale,
They rode oer mountains so high,
Until they came to that beautiful place
Where Sir William\'s mother did lie.
\SBALLADS Child 7D.11
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, lady mother,' he said,
`Rise up, and make much o your own;
Rise up, rise up, lady mother,' he said,
`For his bride\'s just new come home.'
\SBALLADS Child 7D.12
\N1 Sir Willian he died in the middle o the night,
Lady Margaret died on the morrow;
Sir William he died of pure pure love,
Lady Margaret of grief and sorrow.
\LBALLADS Child 7E.1
\N1 HE has lookit over his left shoulder,
And through his bonnie bridle rein,
And he spy\'d her father and her seven bold brethren,
Come riding down the glen.
\SBALLADS Child 7E.2
\N1 `O hold my horse, Lady Margret,' he said,
O hold my horse by the bonnie bridle rein,
Till I f+ight your father and seven bold brethren,
As they come riding down the glen.'
\SBALLADS Child 7E.3
\N1 Some time she rade, and some time she gaed,
Till she that place did near,
And there she spy\'d her seven bold brethren slain,
And her father who loved her so dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7E.4
\N1 `O hold you hand, sweet William,' she said,
`Your bull baits are wondrous sair;
Sweet-hearts I may get many a one,
But a father I will never get mair.'
\SBALLADS Child 7E.5
\N1 She has taken a napkin from off her neck,
That was of the cambrick so f+ine,
And aye as she wiped her father\'s bloody wounds,
The blood ran red as the wine.
* * * * *
\SBALLADS Child 7E.6
\N1 He set her upon the milk-white steed,
Himself upon the brown;
He took a horn out of his pocket,
And they both went weeping along.
\LBALLADS Child 7F.1
\N1 . . .
  . . .
Sayes `Christ thee saue, good Child of Ell!
Christ saue thee and thy steede!
\SBALLADS Child 7F.2
\N1 `My father sayes he will [eat] noe meate,
Nor his drinke shall doe him noe good,
Till he haue slaine the Child of Ell,
And haue seene his harts blood.'
\SBALLADS Child 7F.3
\N1 `I wold I were in my sadle sett,
And a mile out of the towne;
I did not care for your father
And all his merry men!
\SBALLADS Child 7F.4
\N1 `I wold I were in my sadle sett,
And a little space him froe;
I did not care for yo\iu\rr father
And all that long him to!'
\SBALLADS Child 7F.5
\N1 He leaned ore his saddle bow
To kisse this lady good;
The tears \itha\rt went them \itwo\r betweene
Were blend water and blood.
\SBALLADS Child 7F.6
\N1 He sett himselfe on one good steed,
This lady on a palfray,
And sett his litle horne to his mouth,
And roundlie he rode away.
\SBALLADS Child 7F.7
\N1 He had not ridden past a mile,
A mile out of the towne,
. . .
. . .
\SBALLADS Child 7F.8
\N1 Her father was readye w\ii\rth her \iseuen\r brether,
He said, `Sett thou my daughter downe!
For it ill beseemes thee, thou false churles sonne,
To carry her forth of this towne!'
\SBALLADS Child 7F.9
\N1 But lowd thou lyest, S\ii\rr Iohn the k\inigh\rt,
Thou now doest lye of me;
A knight me gott, and a lady me bore;
Soe neuer did none by thee.
\SBALLADS Child 7F.10
\N1 `But light now downe, my lady gay,
Light downe and hold my horsse,
Whilest I and yo\iu\rr father and yo\iu\rr brether
Doe play vs at this crosse.
\SBALLADS Child 7F.11
\N1 `But light now downe, my owne trew loue,
And meeklye hold my steede,
Whilest yo\iu\rr father [and your \iseuen\r brether] bold
* * * * *
\LBALLADS Child 7[G.1]
* * * * *
\N1 `Gude Earl Brand, I long to see
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.1r]
\N1 Faldee faldee fal deediddle a dee
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.1]
\N2 All your grey hounds running over the lea.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.1r]
\N2 And the brave knights in the valley
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.2]
\N1 `Gude lady fair, I have not a steed but one,
But you shall ride and I shall run.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.3]
\N1 They\'re ower moss and they\'re ower mure,
And they saw neither rich nor pure.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.4]
\N1 Until that they came to auld Karl Hude;
He\'s aye for ill and never for gude.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.5]
\N1 `Gude Earl Brand, if ye love me,
Kill auld Karl Hude, and gar him die.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.6]
\N1 `O fair ladie, we\'ll do better than sae:
Gie him a penny and let him gae.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.7]
\N1 `Gude Earl Brand, whare hae ye been,
Or whare hae ye stown this lady sheen?'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.8]
\N1 `She\'s not my lady, but my sick sister,
And she\'s been at the wells of Meen.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.9]
\N1 `If she was sick, and very sair,
She wadna wear the red gold on her hair.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.10[
\N1 `Or if she were sick, and like to be dead,
She wadna wear the ribbons red.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.11]
\N1 He cam till he cam to her father\'s gate,
And he has rappit furious thereat.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.12]
\N1 `Where is the lady o this hall?'
`She\'s out wi her maidens, playing at the ball.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.13]
\N1 `If you\'ll get me fyfteen wale wight men,
Sae fast as I\'ll fetch her back again.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.14]
\N1 She\'s lookit ower her left collar-bane:
`O gude Earl Brand, we baith are taen.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.15]
\N1 `Light down, light down, and hold my steed;
Change never your cheer till ye see me dead.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.16]
\N1 `If they come on me man by man,
I\'ll be very laith for to be taen.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.17]
\N1 `But if they come on me one and all,
The sooner you will see me fall.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.18]
\N1 O he has killd them all but one,
And wha was that but auld Karl Hude.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.19]
\N1 And he has come on him behind,
And put in him the deadly wound.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.20]
\N1 O he has set his lady on,
And he\'s come whistling all along.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.21]
\N1 hGude Earl Brand, I see blood:'
`It\'s but the shade o my scarlet robe.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.22]
\N1 They cam till they cam to the water af+lood;
He\'s lighted down and he\'s wushen aff the blood.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.23]
\N1 His mother walks the f+loor alone:
`O yonder does come my poor son.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.24]
\N1 `He is both murderd and undone,
And all for the sake o an English loon.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.25]
\N1 `Say not sae, my dearest mother,
Marry her on my eldest brother.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.26]
\N1 She set her f+it up to the wa,
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.26r]
\N1 Faldee faldee fal deediddle adee
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.26]
\N2 She\'s fallen down dead amang them a\'.
\SBALLADS Child 7[G.26r]
\N2 And the brave knights o the valley
\LBALLADS Child 7[H.1]
\N1 Did you ever hear of good Earl Brand,
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.1r]
\N1 Aye lally an lilly lally
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.1]
\N2 And the king\'s daughter of fair Scotland?
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.1r]
\N2 And the braw knights o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.2]
\N1 She was scarce f+ifteen years of age
When she came to Earl Brand\'s bed.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.2r]
\N2 Wi the braw knights o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.3]
\N1 `O Earl Brand, I fain wad see
Our grey hounds run over the lea.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.3r]
\N2 Mang the braw bents o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.4]
\N1 `O,' says Earl Brand, `I\'ve nae steads but one,
And you shall ride and I shall run.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.4r]
\N2 Oer the braw heights o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.5]
\N1 `O,' says the lady, `I hae three,
And ye shall hae yeer choice for me.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.5r]
\N2 Of the braw steeds o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.6]
\N1 So they lap on, and on they rade,
Till they came to auld Carle Hood.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.6r]
\N2 Oer the braw hills o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.7]
\N1 Carl Hood\'s aye for ill, and he\'s no for good,
He\'s aye for ill, and he\'s no for good.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.7r]
\N2 Mang the braw hills o Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.8]
\N1 `Where hae ye been hunting a\' day,
And where have ye stolen this fair may?'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.8r]
\N2 I\' the braw nights sae airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.9]
\N1 `She is my sick sister dear,
New comd home from another sister.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.9r]
\N2 I the braw nights sae early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.10]
\N1 `O,' says the lady, 'if ye love me,
Gie him a penny fee and let him gae.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.10r]
\N2 I the braw nights sae early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.11]
\N1 He\'s gane home to her father\'s bower,
. . . . . .
. . . . .
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.12]
\N1 `Where is the lady o this ha?'
`She\'s out wi the young maids, playing at the ba.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.12r]
\N2 I the braw nights so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.13]
\N1 `No,' says another, 'She\'s riding oer the moor,
And a\' to be Earl Brand\'s whore.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.13r]
\N2 I the braw nights so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.14]
\N1 The king mounted f+ifteen weel armed men,
A\' to get Earl Brand taen.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.14r]
\N2 I the braw hills so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.15]
\N1 The lady looked over her white horse mane:
`O Earl Brand, we will be taen.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.15r]
\N2 In the braw hills so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.16]
\N1 He says, If they come one by one,
Ye\'ll no see me so soon taen.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.16r]
\N2 In the braw hills so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.17]
\N1 So they came every one but one,
And he has killd them a\' but ane.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.17r]
\N2 In the braw hills so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.18]
\N1 And that one came behind his back,
And gave Earl Brand a deadly stroke.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.18r]
\N2 In the braw nights of Airly
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.19]
\N1 For as sair wounded as he was,
He lifted the lady on her horse.
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.19r]
\N2 In the braw nights so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.20]
\N1 `O Earl Brand, I see thy heart\'s bluid!'
`It\'s but the shadow of my scarlet robe.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.20r]
\N2 I the braw nights so early
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.21]
\N1 He came to his mother\'s home;
. . . . . .
. . . . .
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.22]
\N1 She looked out and cryd her son was gone,
And a\' for the sake [of] an English loon.
. . . . .
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.23]
\N1 `What will I do wi your lady fair?'
`Marry her to my eldest brother.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[H.23r]
\N2 The brawest knight i Airly
\LBALLADS Child 7[I.1]
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, Lord Douglas,' she said,
`And draw to your arms so bright;
Let it never be said a daughter of yours
Shall go with a lord or a knight.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.2]
\N1 `Rise up, rise up, my seven bold sons,
And draw to your armour so bright;
Let it never be said a sister of yours
Shall go with a lord or a night.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.3]
\N1 He looked over his left shoulder,
To see what he could see,
And there he spy\'d her seven brethren bold,
And her father that lov\'d her tenderly.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.4]
\N1 `Light down, light down, Lady Margret,' he said,
`And hold my steed in thy hand.
That I may go f+itht with your seven brethren bold,
And your father who\'s just at hand.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.5]
\N1 O there she stood, and bitter she stood,
And never did shed a tear,
Till once she saw her seven brethren slain,
And her father she lovd so dear.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.6]
\N1 `Hold, hold your hand, William,' she said,
`For thy strokes are wondrous sore;
For sweethearts I may get many a one,
But a father I neer will get more.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.7]
\N1 She took out a handkerchief of holland so f+ine
And wip\'d her father\'s bloody wound,
Which ran more clear than the red wine,
And forked on the cold ground.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.8]
\N1 `O chuse you, chuse you, Margret,' he said,
`Whether you will go or bide!'
`I must go with you, Lord William,' she said,
`Since you\'ve left me no other guide.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.9]
\N1 He lifted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on a dapple grey,
With a blue gilded horn hanging by his side,
And they slowly both rode away.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.10]
\N1 Away they rode, and better they rode,
Till they came to yonder sand,
Till once they came to yon river side,
And ther they lighted down.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.11]
\N1 They lighted down to take a drink
Of the spring that ran so clear,
And there she spy\'d his bonny heart\'s blood,
A running down the stream.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.12]
\N1 `Hold up, hold up, Lord William,' she says,
`For I fear that you are slain;'
`\'Tis nought but the shade of my scarlet clothes,
That is sparkling down the stream.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.13]
\N1 He lifted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on a dapple grey,
With a blue gilded horn hanging by his side,
And slowly they rode away.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.14]
\N1 Ay they rode, and better they rode,
Till they came to his mother\'s bower;
Till once they came to his mother\'s bower,
And down they lighted there.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.15]
\N1 `O mother, mother, make my bed,
And make it saft and f+ine,
And lay my lady close at my back,
That I may sleep most sound.'
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.16]
\N1 Lord William he died eer middle o the night,
Lady Margret long before the morrow;
Lord William he died for pure true love,
And Lady Margret died for sorrow.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.17]
\N1 Lord William was bury\'d in Lady Mary\'s kirk,
The other in Saint Mary\'s quire;
Out of William\'s grave sprang a red rose,
And out of Margret\'s a briar.
\SBALLADS Child 7[I.18]
\N1 And ay they grew, and ay they threw,
As they wad fain been near;
And by this you may ken right well
They were twa lovers dear.
\LBALLADS Child 8A.1
\N1 ERLINTON had a fair daughter;
I wat he weird her in a great sin;
For he has built a bigly bower,
An a\' to put that lady in.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.2
\N1 An he has warnd her sisters six,
An sae has he her brethren se\'en,
Outher to watch her a\' the night,
Or else to seek her morn an een.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.3
\N1 She hadna been i that bigly bower
Na not a night but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true love,
Chappd at the door, cryin `Peace within!'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.4
\N1 `O whae is this at my bower door,
That chaps sae late, nor kens the gin?'
`O it is Willie, your ain true love,
I pray you rise an let me in!'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.5
\N1 `But in my bower there is a wake,
An at the wake there is a wane;
But I\'ll come to the green-wood the morn,
Whar blooms the brier, by mornin dawn.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.6
\N1 Then she\'s gane to her bed again,
Where she has layen till the cock crew thrice,
Then she said to her sisters a\',
`Maidens, \'tis time for us to rise.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.7
\N1 She pat on her back her silken gown,
An on her breast a siller pin,
An she\'s tane a sister in ilka hand,
An to the green-wood she is gane.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.8
\N1 She hadna walkd in the green-wood
Na not a mile but barely ane,
Till there was Willie, her ain true love,
Whae frae her sister has her taen.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.9
\N1 He took her sisters by the hand,
He kissd them baith, an sent them hame,
An he\'s taen his true love him behind,
And through the green-wood they are gane.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.10
\N1 They hadna ridden in the bonnie green-wood
Na not a mile but barely ane,
When there came f+ifteen o the boldest knights
That ever bare f+lesh, blood, or bane.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.11
\N1 The foremost was an aged knight,
He wore the grey hair on his chin:
Says, `Yield to me thy lady bright,
An thou shalt walk the woods within.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.12
\N1 `For me to yield my lady bright
To such an aged knight as thee,
People wad think I war gane mad,
Or a\' the courage f+lown frae me.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.13
\N1 But up then spake the second knight,
I wat he spake right boustouslie:
`Yield me thy life, or thy lady bright,
Or here the tane of us shall die.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.14
\N1 `My lady is my warld\'s meed;
My life I winna yield to nane;
But if ye be men of your manhead,
Ye\'ll only f+ight me ane by ane.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.15
\N1 He lighted aff his milk-white steed,
An gae his lady him by the head,
Sayn, `See ye dinna change your cheer,
Untill ye see my body bleed.'
\SBALLADS Child 8A.16
\N1 He set his back unto an aik,
He set his feet against a stane,
An he has fought these f+ifteen men,
An killd them a\' but barely ane.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.17
\N1 . . . . .
. . . .
For he has left that aged knight,
An a\' to carry the tidings hame.
\SBALLADS Child 8A.18
\N1 When he gaed to his lady fair,
I wat he kissd her tenderlie:
`Thou art mine ain love, I have thee bought;
Now we shall walk the green-wood free.'
\LBALLADS Child 8B.1
\N1 THERE was a knight, an he had a daughter,
An he wad wed her, wi muckle sin;
Sae he has biggit a bonnie bower, love,
An a\' to keep his fair daughter in.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.2
\N1 But she hadna been in the bonnie bower, love,
And no twa hours but barely ane,
Till up started Tammas, her ain true lover,
And O sae fain as he wad been in.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.3
\N1 `For a\' sae weel as I like ye, Tammas,
An for a\' sae weel as I like the gin,
I wadna for ten thousand pounds, love,
Na no this night wad I let thee in.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.4
\N1 `But yonder is a bonnie greenwud,
An in the greenwud there is a wauk,
An I\'ll be there an sune the morn, love,
It\'s a\' for my true love\'s sake.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.5
\N1 `On my right hand I\'ll have a glove, love,
An on my left ane I\'ll have nane;
I\'ll have wi\' me my sisters six, love,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.6
\N1 They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud,
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start Tammas, her ain true lover,
He\'s taen her sisters her frae mang.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.7
\N1 An he has kissed her sisters six, love,
An he has sent them hame again,
But he has keepit his ain true lover,
Saying, `We will wauk the wuds our lane.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.8
\N1 They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start f+ifteen o the bravest outlaws
That ever bure either breath or bane.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.9
\N1 An up bespake the foremost man, love,
An O but he spake angrily:
`Either your life-+-or your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.10
\N1 `My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I\'ll rather lose my life sae dear.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.11
\N1 Then up bespak the second man, love,
An aye he spake mair angrily,
Saying, `Baith your life, and your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.12
\N1 `My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I\'ll rather lose my life sae dear.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.13
\N1 `But if ye\'ll be men to your manhood,
As that I will be unto mine,
I\'ll f+ight ye every ane man by man,
Till the last drop\'s blude I hae be slain.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.14
\N1 `O sit ye down, my dearest dearie,
Sit down and hold my noble steed,
And see that ye never change your cheer
Until ye see my body bleed.'
\SBALLADS Child 8B.15
\N1 He\'s feughten a\' the f+ifteen outlaws,
The f+ifteen outlaws every ane,
He\'s left naething but the auldest man
To go and carry the tidings hame.
\SBALLADS Child 8B.16
\N1 An he has gane to his dearest dear,
An he has kissed her, cheek and chin,
Saying, `Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'
\LBALLADS Child 8C.1
\N1 AS Robin Hood sat by a tree,
He espied a prettie may,
And when she chanced him to see,
She turnd her head away.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.2
\N1 `O feare me not, thou prettie mayde,
And doe not f+lie from mee;
I am the kindest man,' he said,
`That ever eye did see.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.3
\N1 Then to her he did doffe his cap,
And to her lowted low;
`To meete with thee I hold it good hap,
If thou wilt not say noe.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.4
\N1 Then he put his hand around her waste,
Soe small, so tight, and trim,
And after sought her lip to taste,
And she to kissed him.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.5
\N1 `Where dost thou dwell, my prettie maide?
I prithee tell to me;'
`I am a tanner\'s daughter,' she said,
`John Hobbes of Barneslee.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.6
\N1 `And whither goest thou, pretty maide?
Shall I be thy true love?'
`If thou art not afeard,' she said,
`My true love thou shalt prove.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.7
\N1 `What should I feare?' then he replied;
`I am thy true love now;'
`I have two brethren, and their pride
Would scorn such one as thou.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.8
\N1 `That will we try,' quoth Robin Hood;
`I was not made their scorne;
Ile shed my blood to doe the<e] good,
As sure as they were borne.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.9
\N1 `My brothers are proude and f+ierce and strong;'
`I am,' said he, 'The same,
And if they offer thee to wrong,
Theyle f+inde Ile play their game.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.10
\N1 `Through the free forrest I can run,
The king may not controll;
They are but barking tanners\' sons,
To me they shall pay toll.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.11
\N1 `And if not mine be sheepe and kine,
I have cattle on my land;
On venison eche day I may dine,
Whiles they have none in hand.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.12
\N1 These wordes had Robin Hood scarce spoke,
When they two men did see,
Come riding till their horses smoke:
`My brothers both,' cried shee.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.13
\N1 Each had a good sword by his side,
And furiouslie they rode
To where they Robin Hood espied,
That with the maiden stood.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.14
\N1 `Flee hence, f+lee hence, away with speede!'
Cried she to Robin Hood,
`For if thou stay, thoult surely bleede;
I could not see thy blood.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.15
\N1 `With us, false maiden, come away,
And leave that outlawe bolde;
Why f+ledst thou from thy home this day,
And left thy father olde?'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.16
\N1 Robin stept backe but paces f+ive,
Unto a sturdie tree;
`Ile f+ight whiles I am left alive;
Stay thou, sweete maide, with mee.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.17
\N1 He stood before, she stoode behinde,
The brothers two drewe nie;
`Our sister now to us resign,
Or thou full sure shalt die.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.18
\N1 Then cried the maide, `My brethren deare,
With ye Ile freely wend,
But harm not this young forrester,
Noe ill doth he pretend.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.19
\N1 `Stande up, sweete maide, I plight my troth;
Fall thou not on thy knee;
Ile force thy cruell brothers both
To bend the knee to thee.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.20
\N1 `Stand thou behinde this sturdie oke,
I soone will quell their pride;
Thoult see my sword with furie smoke,
And in their hearts\' blood died.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.21
\N1 He set his backe against a tree,
His foote against a stone;
The f+irst blow that he gave so free
Cleft one man to the bone.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.22
\N1 The tanners bold they fought right well,
And it was one to two;
But Robin did them both refell,
All in the damsell\'s viewe.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.23
\N1 The red blood ran from Robins brow,
All downe unto his knee;
`O holde your handes, my brethren now,
I will goe backe with yee.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.24
\N1 `Stand backe, stand backe, my pretty maide,
Stand backe and let me f+ight;
By sweete St. James be no<t] afraide
But I will it requite.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.25
\N1 Then Robin did his sword uplift,
And let it fall againe;
The oldest brothers head it cleft,
Right through unto his braine.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.26
\N1 `O hold thy hand, bolde forrester,
Or ill may thee betide;
Slay not my youngest brother here,
He is my father\'s pride.'
\SBALLADS Child 8C.27
\N1 `Away, for I would scorne to owe,
My life to the<e], false maide!'
The youngest cried, and aimd a blow
That lit on Robin\'s head.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.28
\N1 Then Robin leand against the tree,
His life nie gone did seeme;
His eyes did swim, he could not see
The maiden start betweene.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.29
\N1 It was not long ere Robin Hood
Could welde his sword so bright;
Upon his feete he f+irmly stood,
And did renew the f+ight.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.30
\N1 Untill the tanner scarce could heave
His weapon in the aire;
But Robin would not him bereave
Of life, and left him there.
\SBALLADS Child 8C.31
\N1 Then to the greenewood did he f+ly,
And with him went the maide;
For him she vowd that she would dye,
He\'d live for her, he said.
\LBALLADS Child 9A.1
\N1 IT was a knight in Scotland borne
\SBALLADS Child 9A.1r
\N1 Follow, my love, come over the strand
\SBALLADS Child 9A.1
\N2 Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.1r
\N2 Even by the good Earle of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.2
\N1 Then was he cast in prison strong,
Where he could not walke nor lie along,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.2r
\N2 Even by the goode Earle of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.3
\N1 And as in sorrow thus he lay,
The Earle\'s sweete daughter walkt that way,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.3r
\N2 And she the faire f+lower of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.4
\N1 And passing by, like an angell bright,
The prisoner had of her a sight,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.4r
\N2 And she the faire f+lower of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.5
\N1 And loud to her this knight did crie,
The salt teares standing in his eye,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.5r
\N2 And she the faire f+lower of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.6
\N1 `Faire lady,' he said, 'Take pity on me,
And let me not in prison dye,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.6r
\N2 And you the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.7
\N1 `Faire Sir, how should I take pity on thee,
Thou being a foe to our countrey,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.7r
\N2 And I the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.8
\N1 `Faire lady, I am no foe,' he said,
`Through thy sweet love heere was I stayd,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.8r
\N2 For thee, the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.9
\N1 `Why shouldst thou come heere for love of me,
Having wife and children in thy countrie?
\SBALLADS Child 9A.9r
\N2 And I the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.10
\N1 `I sweare by the blessed Trinitie,
I have no wife nor children, I,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.10r
\N2 Nor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.11
\N1 `If curteously you will set me free,
I vow that I will marrie thee,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.11r
\N2 So soone as I come in faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.12
\N1 `Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers,
And sit like a queene in princely bowers,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.12r
\N2 When I am at home in faire Scotland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.13
\N1 Then parted hence this lady gay,
And got her father\'s ring away,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.13r
\N2 To helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.14
\N1 Likewise much gold she got by sleight,
And all to help this forlorne knight
\SBALLADS Child 9A.14r
\N2 To wend from her father to faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.15
\N1 Two gallant steedes, both good and able,
She likewise tooke out of the stable,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.15r
\N2 To ride with this knight into faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.16
\N1 And to the jaylor she sent this ring,
The knight from prison forth to bring,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.16r
\N2 To wend with her into faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.17
\N1 This token set the prisoner free,
Who straight went to this faire lady,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.17r
\N2 To wend with her into faire Scotland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.18
\N1 A gallant steede he did bestride,
And with the lady away did ride,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.18r
\N2 And she the faire f+lower of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.19
\N1 They rode till they came to a water cleare:
`Good Sir, how should I follow you heere,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.19r
\N2 And I the faire f+lower of Northumberland?
\SBALLADS Child 9A.20
\N1 `The water is rough and wonderfull deepe,
An<d] on my saddle I shall not keepe,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.20r
\N2 And I the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.21
\N1 `Feare not the foord, faire lady,' quoth he,
`For long I cannot stay for thee,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.21r
\N2 And thou the faire f+lower of Northumberland.'
\SBALLADS Child 9A.22
\N1 The lady prickt her wanton steed,
And over the river swom with speede,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.22r
\N2 And she the faire f+lower of Northumberland.
\SBALLADS Child 9A.23
\N1 From top to toe all wet was shee:
`This have I done for love of thee,
\SBALLADS Child 9A.23r
\