And a' man gane to bed,
The bride but and the silly bridegroom
In ae chamber were laid.
Wasna't a fell thing for to see
Twa heads upon a cod; 110
Lady Maisery's like the mo'ten goud,
Auld Ingram's like a toad.
He turn'd his face unto the stock,
And sound he fell asleep;
She turn'd her face unto the wa', 115
And saut tears she did weep.
It fell about the mirk midnicht,
Auld Ingram began to turn him;
He put his hand on's ladie's side,
And waly, sair was she mournin'. 120
"What aileth thee, my lady dear?
Ever alas, and wae is me!
There is a babe betwixt thy sides,--
Oh! sae sair's it grieves me!"
"O didna I tell ye, auld Ingram, 125
Ere ye socht me to wed,
That Lord Wa'yates, your sister's son,
Had been into my bed?"
"Then father that bairn on me, Maisery,
O father that bairn on me; 130
And ye sall hae a rigland shire
Your mornin' gift to be."
"O sarbit!" says the Ladie Maisery,
"That ever the like me befa',
To father my bairn on auld Ingram, 135
Lord Wa'yates in my father's ha'.
"O sarbit!" says the Ladie Maisery,
"That ever the like betide,
To father my bairn on auld Ingram,
And Lord Wa'yates beside." 140
* * * * * * *
SWEET WILLIE AND FAIR MAISRY. See p. 79.
From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 97.
"Hey love Willie, and how love Willie,
And Willie my love shall be;
They're thinking to sinder our lang love, Willie;
It's mair than man can dee.
"Ye'll mount me quickly on a steed, 5
A milk-white steed or gray;
And carry me on to gude greenwood
Before that it be day."
He mounted her upon a steed,
He chose a steed o' gray; 10
He had her on to gude greenwood
Before that it was day.
"O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie?
Or will ye gang wi' me?
Or will ye ha'e a bower woman, 15
To stay ere it be day?"
"I winna gang to the cards," she said,
"Nor will I gae wi' thee,
Nor will I hae a bower woman,
To spoil my modestie. 20
"Ye'll gie me a lady at my back,
An' a lady me beforn;
An' a midwife at my twa sides
Till your young son be born.
"Ye'll do me up, and further up, 25
To the top o' yon greenwood tree;
For every pain myself shall ha'e,
The same pain ye maun drie."
The first pain that did strike sweet Willie,
It was into the side; 30
Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,
"These pains are ill to bide."
The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie,
It was into the back;
Then sighing sair said sweet Willie, 35
"These pains are women's wreck."
The nextan pain that strake sweet Willie,
It was into the head;
Then sighing sair said sweet Willie,
"I fear my lady's dead." 40
Then he's gane on, and further on,
At the foot o' yon greenwood tree;
There he got his lady lighter,
Wi' his young son on her knee.
Then he's ta'en up his little young son, 45
And kiss'd him cheek and chin;
And he is on to his mother,
As fast as he could gang.
"Ye will take in my son, mother,
Gi'e him to nurses nine; 50
Three to wauk, and three to sleep,
And three to gang between."
Then he has left his mother's house,
And frae her he has gane;
And he is back to his lady, 55
And safely brought her hame.
Then in it came her father dear,
Was belted in a brand;
"It's nae time for brides to lye in bed,
When the bridegroom's send's in town. 60
"There are four-and-twenty noble lords
A' lighted on the green;
The fairest knight amang them a',
He must be your bridegroom."
"O wha will shoe my foot, my foot? 65
And wha will glove my hand?
And wha will prin my sma' middle,
Wi' the short prin and the lang?"
Now out it speaks him, sweet Willie,
Who knew her troubles best; 70
"It is my duty for to serve,
As I'm come here as guest.
"Now I will shoe your foot, Maisry,
And I will glove your hand,
And I will prin your sma' middle, 75
Wi' the sma' prin and the lang."
"Wha will saddle my steed," she says,
"And gar my bridle ring?
And wha will ha'e me to gude church-door,
This day I'm ill abound?" 80
"I will saddle your steed, Maisry,
And gar your bridle ring;
And I'll hae you to gude church-door,
And safely set you down."
"O healy, healy take me up, 85
And healy set me down;
And set my back until a wa',
My foot to yird-fast stane."
He healy took her frae her horse,
And healy set her down; 90
And set her back until a wa',
Her foot to yird-fast stane.
When they had eaten and well drunken,
And a' had thorn'd fine;
The bride's father he took the cup, 95
For to serve out the wine.
Out it speaks the bridegroom's brother,
An ill death mat he die!
"I fear our bride she's born a bairn,
Or else has it a dee." 100
She's ta'en out a Bible braid,
And deeply has she sworn;
"If I ha'e born a bairn," she says,
"Sin' yesterday at morn;
"Or if I've born a bairn," she says, 105
"Sin' yesterday at noon;
There's nae a lady amang you a'
That wou'd been here sae soon."
Then out it spake the bridegroom's man,
Mischance come ower his heel! 110
"Win up, win up, now bride," he says,
"And dance a shamefu' reel."[L112]
Then out it speaks the bride hersell,
And a sorry heart had she;
"Is there nae ane amang you a' 115
Will dance this dance for me?"
Then out it speaks him, sweet Willie,
And he spake aye thro' pride;
"O draw my boots for me, bridegroom,
Or I dance for your bride." 120
Then out it spake the bride hersell,
"O na, this maunna be;
For I will dance this dance mysell,
Tho' my back shou'd gang in three."
She hadna well gane thro' the reel, 125
Nor yet well on the green,
Till she fell down at Willie's feet
As cauld as ony stane.
He's ta'en her in his arms twa,
And ha'ed her up the stair; 130
Then up it came her jolly bridegroom,
Says, "What's your business there?"
Then Willie lifted up his foot,
And dang him down the stair;
And brake three ribs o' the bridegroom's side, 135
And a word he spake nae mair.
Nae meen was made for that lady,
When she was lying dead;
But a' was for him, sweet Willie,
On the fields for he ran mad. 140
112. The first reel, danced with the bride, her maiden, and two
young men, and called the Shame Spring, or Reel, as the bride
chooses the tune that is to be played. B.
LADY MARJORIE. See p. 92.
"Given from the recitation of an old woman in Kilbarchan,
Renfrewshire, from whom the Editor has obtained several valuable
pieces of a like nature. In singing, O is added at the end of the
second and fourth line of each stanza." Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_,
p. 234.
Lady Marjorie was her mother's only daughter,
Her father's only heir;
And she is awa to Strawberry Castle,
To get some unco lair.
She had na been in Strawberry Castle 5
A twelvemonth and a day,
Till Lady Marjorie she gangs big wi' child,
As big as she can gae.
Word is to her father gane,
Before he got on his shoon, 10
That Lady Marjorie she gaes wi' child,
And it is to an Irish groom.
But word is to her mother gone,
Before she got on her goun,
That Lady Marjorie she gaes wi' child 15
To a lord of high renown.
"O wha will put on the pat," they said,
"Or wha will put on the pan,
Or wha will put on a bauld, bauld fire,
To burn Lady Marjorie in?" 20
Her father he put on the pat,
Her sister put on the pan,
And her brother he put on a bauld, bauld fire,
To burn Lady Marjorie in;
And her mother she sat in a golden chair, 25
To see her daughter burn.
"But where will I get a pretty little boy,
That will win hose and shoon;
That will go quickly to Strawberry Castle,
And bid my lord come doun?" 30
"O here am I, a pretty little boy,
That will win hose and shoon;
That will rin quickly to Strawberry Castle,
And bid thy lord come doun."
O when he cam to broken brigs, 35
He bent his bow and swam;
And when he cam to gude dry land,
He set doun his foot and ran.
When he cam to Strawberry Castle,
He tirled at the pin; 40
Nane was sae ready as the gay lord himsell
To open and let him in.
"O is there any of my towers burnt,
Or any of my castles won?
Or is Lady Marjorie brought to bed, 45
Of a daughter or a son?"
"O there is nane of thy towers burnt,
Nor nane of thy castles broken;
But Lady Marjorie is condemned to die,
To be burnt in a fire of oaken." 50
"O gar saddle to me the black," he says,
"Gar saddle to me the broun;
Gar saddle to me the swiftest steed
That e'er carried a man frae toun!"
He left the black into the slap, 55
The broun into the brae;
But fair fa' that bonnie apple-gray
That carried this gay lord away!
"Beet on, beet on, my brother dear,
I value you not one straw; 60
For yonder comes my ain true luve,
I hear his horn blaw.
"Beet on, beet on, my father dear,
I value you not a pin;
For yonder comes my ain true luve, 65
I hear his bridle ring."
He took a little horn out of his pocket,
And he blew't baith loud and schill;
And wi' the little life that was in her,
She hearken'd to it full weel. 70
But when he came into the place,
He lap unto the wa';
He thought to get a kiss o' her bonnie lips,
But her body fell in twa!
"O vow! O vow! O vow!" he said, 75
"O vow! but ye've been cruel:
Ye've taken the timber out of my ain wood,
And burnt my ain dear jewel!
"Now for thy sake, Lady Marjorie,
I'll burn baith father and mother; 80
And for thy sake, Lady Marjorie,
I'll burn baith sister and brother.
"And for thy sake, Lady Marjorie,
I'll burn baith kith and kin;
But I'll aye remember the pretty little boy 85
That did thy errand rin."
LEESOME BRAND.
Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 38. This is properly
a tragic story, as may be perceived by comparing the present
corrupted version (evidently made up from several different sources)
with the Danish and Swedish ballads. See _Herr Medelvold_, _Danske
Viser_, iii. 361, _Die wahrsagenden Nachtigallen_, in Grimm's
_Altd[:a]nische Heldenlieder_, p. 88, _Fair Midel and Kirsten Lyle_,
translated by Jamieson, _Illustrations_, p. 377; and _Herr Redevall_,
_Svenska Folkvisor_, ii. 189, _Krist' Lilla och Herr Tideman_,
Arwidsson, i. 352, _Sir Wal and Lisa Lyle_, translated by Jamieson,
p. 373.
My boy was scarcely ten years auld,
Whan he went to an unco land,
Where wind never blew, nor cocks ever crew,
Ohon! for my son, Leesome Brand.
Awa' to that king's court he went, 5
It was to serve for meat an' fee;
Gude red gowd it was his hire,
And lang in that king's court stay'd he.
He hadna been in that unco land,
But only twallmonths twa or three; 10
Till by the glancing o' his ee,
He gain'd the love o' a gay ladye.
This ladye was scarce eleven years auld,
When on her love she was right bauld;
She was scarce up to my right knee, 15
When oft in bed wi' men I'm tauld.
But when nine months were come and gane,
This ladye's face turn'd pale and wane;
To Leesome Brand she then did say,
"In this place I can nae mair stay. 20
"Ye do you to my father's stable,
Where steeds do stand baith wight and able;
Strike ane o' them upo' the back,
The swiftest will gie his head a wap.
"Ye take him out upo' the green, 25
And get him saddled and bridled seen;
Get ane for you, anither for me,
And lat us ride out ower the lee.
"Ye do you to my mother's coffer,
And out of it ye'll take my tocher; 30
Therein are sixty thousand pounds,
Which all to me by right belongs."
He's done him to her father's stable,
Where steeds stood baith wicht and able;
Then he strake ane upon the back, 35
The swiftest gae his head a wap.
He's ta'en him out upo' the green,
And got him saddled and bridled seen;
Ane for him, and another for her,
To carry them baith wi' might and virr. 40
He's done him to her mother's coffer,
And there he's taen his lover's tocher;
Wherein were sixty thousand pounds,
Which all to her by right belong'd.
When they had ridden about six mile, 45
His true love then began to fail;
"O wae's me," said that gay ladye,
"I fear my back will gang in three!
"O gin I had but a gude midwife,[L49]
Here this day to save my life, 50
And ease me o' my misery,
O dear, how happy I wou'd be!"
"My love, we're far frae ony town;
There is nae midwife to be foun';
But if ye'll be content wi' me, 55
I'll do for you what man can dee."
"For no, for no, this maunna be,"
Wi' a sigh, replied this gay ladye;
"When I endure my grief and pain,
My companie ye maun refrain. 60
"Ye'll take your arrow and your bow,
And ye will hunt the deer and roe;
Be sure ye touch not the white hynde,
For she is o' the woman kind."
He took sic pleasure in deer and roe, 65
Till he forgot his gay ladye;
Till by it came that milk-white hynde,
And then he mind on his ladye syne.
He hasted him to yon greenwood tree,
For to relieve his gay ladye; 70
But found his ladye lying dead,
Likeways her young son at her head.
His mother lay ower her castle wa',
And she beheld baith dale and down;
And she beheld young Leesome Brand, 75
As he came riding to the town.
"Get minstrels for to play," she said,
"And dancers to dance in my room;
For here comes my son, Leesome Brand,
And he comes merrilie to the town." 80
"Seek nae minstrels to play, mother,
Nor dancers to dance in your room;
But tho' your son comes, Leesome Brand,
Yet he comes sorry to the town.
"O I hae lost my gowden knife, 85
I rather had lost my ain sweet life;
And I hae lost a better thing,
The gilded sheath that it was in."
"Are there nae gowdsmiths here in Fife,
Can make to you anither knife? 90
Are there nae sheath-makers in the land,
Can make a sheath to Leesome Brand?"
"There are nae gowdsmiths here in Fife,
Can make me sic a gowden knife;
Nor nae sheath-makers in the land, 95
Can make to me a sheath again.
"There ne'er was man in Scotland born,
Ordain'd to be so much forlorn;
I've lost my ladye I lov'd sae dear,
Likeways the son she did me bear." 100
"Put in your hand at my bed head,
There ye'll find a gude grey horn;
In it three draps o' Saint Paul's ain blude,
That hae been there sin' he was born.
"Drap twa o' them o' your ladye, 105
And ane upo' your little young son;
Then as lively they will be
As the first night ye brought them hame."
He put his hand at her bed head,
And there he found a gude grey horn; 110
Wi' three draps o' Saint Paul's ain blude,
That had been there sin' he was born.
Then he drapp'd twa on his ladye,
And ane o' them on his young son;
And now they do as lively be, 115
As the first day he brought them hame.
NOTE to v. 49-72.--A similar passage is found at p. 94 of this
volume, v. 33-36, also vol. v. p. 178, v. 97-108, and p. 402, v.
169-176, and in the Scandinavian ballads cited in the preface to
this ballad. In these last the lady frees herself from the presence
of the knight by sending him to get her some water, and she is found
dead on his return. This incident, remarks Grimm, (_Altd[:a]nische
Heldenlieder_, p. 508), is also found in _Wolfdietrich_, Str.
1680-96.
THE YOUTH OF ROSENGORD. See p. 219.
_Sven i Roseng[oa]rd_, _Svenska Folk-Visor_, iii. 3, and Arwidsson's
_Forns[oa]nger_, ii. 83: translated in _Literature and Romance of
Northern Europe_, i. 263.
"So long where hast thou tarried,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"I have been into my stable,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 5
"What hast thou done in the stable,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"I have watered the horses,
Our mother dear."
Long may ye look for me, or look for me never. 10
"Why is thy foot so bloody,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"The black horse has trampled me,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 15
"Why is thy sword so bloody,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"I have murdered my brother,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 20
"Whither wilt thou betake thee,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"I shall flee my country,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 25
"What will become of thy wedded wife,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"She must spin for her living,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 30
"What will become of thy children small,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"They must beg from door to door,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 35
"When comest thou back again,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"When the swan is black as night,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 40
"And when will the swan be black as night,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"When the raven shall be white as snow,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 45
"And when will the raven be white as snow,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"When the grey rocks take to flight,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 50
"And when will fly the grey rocks,
Young man of Rosengord?"
"The rocks they will fly never,
Our mother dear."
Long may you look for me, or look for me never. 55
THE BLOOD-STAINED SON.--See p. 219.
A translation, nearly word for word, of _Der Blutige Sohn_, printed
from oral tradition in Schr[:o]ter's _Finnische Runen_, (_Finnisch und
Deutsch_,) ed. 1834, p. 151.
"Say whence com'st thou, say whence com'st thou,
Merry son of mine?"
"From the lake-side, from the lake-side,
O dear mother mine."
"What hast done there, what hast done there, 5
Merry son of mine?"
"Steeds I watered, steeds I watered,
O dear mother mine."
"Why thus clay-bedaubed thy jacket,
Merry son of mine?" 10
"Steeds kept stamping, steeds kept stamping,
O dear mother mine."
"But how came thy sword so bloody,
Merry son of mine?"
"I have stabbed my only brother, 15
O dear mother mine."
"Whither wilt thou now betake thee,
Merry son of mine?"
"Far away to foreign countries,
O dear mother mine." 20
"Where leav'st thou thy gray-haired father,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let him chop wood in the forest,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine." 25
"Where leav'st thou thy gray-haired mother,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let her sit, her flax a-picking,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine." 30
"Where leav'st thou thy wife so youthful,
Merry son of mine?"
"Let her deck her, take another,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine." 35
"Where leav'st thou thy son so youthful,
Merry son of mine?"
"He to school, and bear the rod there,
[Never wish to see me more,]
O dear mother mine." 40
"Where leav'st thou thy youthful daughter,
Merry son of mine?"
"She to the wood and eat wild berries,
Never wish to see me more,
O dear mother mine." 45
"Home when com'st thou back from roaming,
Merry son of mine?"
"In the north when breaks the morning,
O dear mother mine."
"In the north when breaks the morning, 50
Merry son of mine?"
"When stones dance upon the water,
O dear mother mine."
"When shall stones dance on the water,
Merry son of mine?" 55
"When a feather sinks to the bottom,
O dear mother mine."
"When shall feathers sink to the bottom,
Merry son of mine?"
"When we all shall come to judgment, 60
O dear mother mine."
THE TWA BROTHERS. See p. 220.
From Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 61.
There were twa brothers at the scule,
And when they got awa',--
"It's will ye play at the stane-chucking,
Or will ye play at the ba',
Or will ye gae up to yon hill head, 5
And there we'll warsel a fa'?"
"I winna play at the stane-chucking,
Nor will I play at the ba';
But I'll gae up to yon bonnie green hill,
And there we'll warsel a fa'." 10
They warsled up, they warsled down,
Till John fell to the ground;
A dirk fell out of William's pouch,
And gave John a deadly wound.
"O lift me upon your back, 15
Take me to yon well fair,
And wash my bluidy wounds o'er and o'er,
And they'll ne'er bleed nae mair."
He's lifted his brother upon his back,
Ta'en him to yon well fair; 20
He's wash'd his bluidy wounds o'er and o'er,
But they bleed ay mair and mair.
"Tak ye aff my Holland sark,
And rive it gair by gair,
And row it in my bluidy wounds, 25
And they'll ne'er bleed nae mair."
He's taken aff his Holland sark,
And torn it gair by gair;
He's rowit it in his bluidy wounds,
But they bleed ay mair and mair. 30
"Tak now aff my green cleiding,
And row me saftly in;
And tak me up to yon kirk style,
Whare the grass grows fair and green."
He's taken aff the green cleiding, 35
And rowed him saftly in;
He's laid him down by yon kirk style,
Whare the grass grows fair and green.
"What will ye say to your father dear,
When ye gae hame at e'en?" 40
"I'll say ye're lying at yon kirk style,
Whare the grass grows fair and green."
"O no, O no, my brother dear,
O you must not say so;
But say that I'm gane to a foreign land, 45
Whare nae man does me know."
When he sat in his father's chair,
He grew baith pale and wan:
"O what blude 's that upon your brow?
O dear son, tell to me." 50
"It is the blude o' my gude gray steed,
He wadna ride wi' me."
"O thy steed's blude was ne'er sae red,
Nor e'er sae dear to me:
O what blude 's this upon your cheek? 55
O dear son, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my greyhound,
He wadna hunt for me."
"O thy hound's blude was ne'er sae red,
Nor e'er sae dear to me: 60
O what blude 's this upon your hand?
O dear son, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my gay goss hawk,
He wadna flee for me."
"O thy hawk's blude was ne'er sae red, 65
Nor e'er sae dear to me:
O what blude 's this upon your dirk?
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"It is the blude of my ae brother,
O dule and wae is me!" 70
"O what will ye say to your father?
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"I'll saddle my steed, and awa I'll ride
To dwell in some far countrie."
"O when will ye come hame again? 75
Dear Willie, tell to me."
"When sun and mune leap on yon hill,
And that will never be."
She turn'd hersel' right round about,
And her heart burst into three: 80
"My ae best son is deid and gane,
And my tother ane I'll ne'er see."
THE MILLER AND THE KING'S DAUGHTER. See p. 231.
From _Wit Restor'd_, (1658,) reprinted, London, 1817, i. 153. It is
there ascribed to "Mr. Smith," (Dr. James Smith, the author of many
of the pieces in that collection,) who may have written it down from
tradition, and perhaps added a verse or two. Mr. Rimbault has
printed the same piece from a broadside dated 1656, in _Notes and
Queries_, v. 591. A fragment of it is given from recitation at p.
316 of that volume, and a copy quite different from any before
published, at p. 102 of vol. vi. Although two or three stanzas are
ludicrous, and were probably intended for burlesque, this ballad is
by no means to be regarded as a parody.
There were two sisters, they went a-playing,
_With a hie downe, downe, a downe a_;
To see their fathers ships sayling in.
_With a hy downe, downe, a downe o._
And when they came into the sea brym,
_With_, &c.
The elder did push the younger in.
_With_, &c.
"O sister, O sister, take me by the gowne, 5
_With_, &c.
And drawe me up upon the dry ground."
_With_, &c.
"O sister, O sister, that may not bee,
_With_, &c.
Till salt and oatmeale grow both of a tree."
_With_, &c.
Somtymes she sanke, somtymes she swam,
_With_, &c.
Untill she came unto the mildam. 10
_With_, &c.
The miller runne hastily downe the cliffe,
_With_, &c.
And up he betook her withouten her life.
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her brest bone?
_With_, &c.
He made him a viall to play thereupon.
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her fingers so small? 15
_With_, &c.
He made him peggs to his violl withall.
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her nose-ridge?
_With_, &c.
Unto his violl he made him a bridge.
_With_, &c.
What did he do with her veynes so blewe?
_With_, &c.
He made him strings to his viole thereto. 20
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her eyes so bright?
_With_, &c.
Upon his violl he played at first sight.
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her tongue soe rough?
_With_, &c.
Unto the violl it spake enough.
_With_, &c.
What did he doe with her two shinnes? 25
_With_, &c.
Unto the violl they danct Moll Syms.
_With_, &c.
Then bespake the treble string,
_With_, &c.
"O yonder is my father the king."
_With_, &c.
Then bespake the second string,
_With_, &c.
"O yonder sitts my mother the queen." 30
_With_, &c.
And then bespake the stringes all three,
_With_, &c.
"O yonder is my sister that drowned mee."
_With_, &c.
Now pay the miller for his payne,
_With_, &c.
And let him bee gone in the divels name.
_With_, &c.
THE BONNY BOWS O' LONDON. See p. 231.
From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 128.
There were twa sisters in a bower,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And ae king's son hae courted them baith,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
He courted the youngest wi' broach and ring, 5
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
He courted the eldest wi' some other thing,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
It fell ance upon a day,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_, 10
The eldest to the youngest did say,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_:
"Will ye gae to yon Tweed mill dam,"
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_,
"And see our father's ships come to land?" 15
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
They baith stood up upon a stane,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
The eldest dang the youngest in,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_. 20
She swimmed up, sae did she down,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
Till she came to the Tweed mill-dam,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
The miller's servant he came out, 25
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And saw the lady floating about,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
"O master, master, set your mill,"
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_; 30
"There is a fish, or a milk-white swan,"
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
They could not ken her yellow hair,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
[For] the scales o' gowd that were laid there, 35
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
They could not ken her fingers sae white,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
The rings o' gowd they were sae bright,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_. 40
They could not ken her middle sae jimp,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
The stays o' gowd were so well laced,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
They could not ken her foot sae fair, 45
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
The shoes o' gowd they were so rare,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
Her father's fiddler he came by,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_; 50
Upstarted her ghaist before his eye,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
"Ye'll take a lock o' my yellow hair,"
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
"Ye'll make a string to your fiddle there," 55
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
"Ye'll take a lith o' my little finger bane,"
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
"And ye'll make a pin to your fiddle then,"
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_. 60
He's ta'en a lock o' her yellow hair,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And made a string to his fiddle there,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
He's taen a lith o' her little finger bane, 65
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And he's made a pin to his fiddle then,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
The firstand spring the fiddle did play,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_; 70
Said, "Ye'll drown my sister, as she's dune me."
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.
I.
THE CROODLIN DOO. See _Lord Donald_, p. 244.
From Chambers's _Scottish Ballads_, p. 324. Other copies in _The
Scot's Musical Museum_, (1853,) vol. iv. 364*, and Buchan's _Ballads
of the North of Scotland_, ii. 179.
"O whaur hae ye been a' the day,
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"O I've been at my grandmother's;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."
"O what gat ye at your grandmother's, 5
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"I got a bonnie wee fishie;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."
"O whaur did she catch the fishie,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?" 10
"She catch'd it in the gutter-hole;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."
"And what did she do wi' the fish,
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"She boiled it in a brass pan; 15
O mak my bed, mammie, noo."
"And what did ye do wi' the banes o't,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?"
"I gied them to my little dog;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo," 20
"And what did your little doggie do,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?"
"He stretch'd out his head, his feet, and dee'd,
And so will I, mammie, noo!"
II.
THE SNAKE-COOK.
From oral tradition, in Erk's _Deutscher Leiderhort_, p. 6. Our
homely translation is, as far as possible, word for word. Other
German versions are _The Stepmother_, at p. 5 of the same
collection, (or Uhland, i. 272,) and _Grandmother Adder-cook_, at p.
7. The last is translated by Jamieson, _Illustrations of Northern
Antiquities_, p. 320.
"Where hast thou been away so long,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"O I have been at my true-love's,
Lady mother, ah me!
_My young life, 5
She has poisoned for me_."
"What gave she thee to eat,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She cooked me a speckled fish,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c. 10
"And how many pieces cut she thee,
Henry my dearest son?"
"She cut three little pieces from it,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"Where left she then the third piece, 15
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She gave it to her dark-brown dog,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"And what befell the dark-brown dog,
Henry, my dearest son?" 20
"His belly burst in the midst in two,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"What wishest thou for thy father,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish him a thousandfold boon and blessing, 25
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
"What wishest thou for thy mother,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish for her eternal bliss,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c. 30
"What wishest thou for thy true-love,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish her eternal hell and torment,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.
III.
THE CHILD'S LAST WILL.
_Den lillas Testamente: Svenska Folk-Visor_, iii. 13. Translated in
_Literature and Romance of Northern Europe_, i. 265. See also
Arwidsson's _Forns[oa]nger_, ii. 90.
"So long where hast thou tarried,
Little daughter dear?"
"I have tarried with my old nurse,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 5
"What gave she thee for dinner,
Little daughter dear?"
"A few small speckled fishes,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 10
"What didst thou do with the fish-bones,
Little daughter dear?"
"Gave them to the beagle,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 15
"What wish leav'st thou thy father,
Little daughter dear?"
"The blessedness of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 20
"What wish leav'st thou thy mother,
Little daughter dear?"
"All the joys of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 25
"What wish leav'st thou thy brother,
Little daughter dear?"
"A fleet ship on the waters,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 30
"What wish leav'st thou thy sister,
Little daughter dear?"
"Golden chests and caskets,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 35
"What wish leav'st thou thy step-mother,
Little daughter dear?"
"Of hell the bitter sorrow
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 40
"What wish leav'st thou thy old nurse,
Little daughter dear?"
"For her I wish the same pangs,
Sweet step-mother mine.
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 45
"But now the time is over
When I with you can stay;
The little bells of heaven
Are ringing me away."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 50
THE THREE KNIGHTS. See p. 251.
From the second edition of Gilbert's _Ancient Christmas Carols_, &c.
p. 68.
There did three Knights come from the West,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And these three Knights courted one Lady,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
The first Knight came was all in white, 5
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And asked of her, if she'd be his delight,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
The next Knight came was all in green,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 10
And asked of her, if she'd be his Queen,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
The third Knight came was all in red,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And asked of her, if she would wed, 15
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"Then have you asked of my Father dear,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
Likewise of her who did me bear?
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 20
"And have you asked of my brother John?
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And also of my sister Anne?"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"Yes, I have asked of your Father dear, 25
_With the high and the lily oh_!
Likewise of her who did you bear,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"And I have asked of your sister Anne,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 30
But I've not asked of your brother John,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
[Here some verses seem to be wanting.]
For on the road as they rode along,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
There did they meet with her brother John, 35
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
She stooped low to kiss him sweet,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
He to her heart did a dagger meet,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 40
"Ride on, ride on," cried the serving man,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"Methinks your bride she looks wond'rous wan,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"I wish I were on yonder stile, 45
_With the high and the lily oh_!
For there I would sit and bleed awhile,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"I wish I were on yonder hill,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 50
There I'd alight and make my will,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"What would you give to your Father dear?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"The gallant steed which doth me bear," 55
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"What would you give to your Mother dear?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"My wedding shift which I do wear,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 60
"But she must wash it very clean,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
For my heart's blood sticks in every seam,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"What would you give to your sister Anne?" 65
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"My gay gold ring, and my feathered fan,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"What would you give to your brother John?"
_With the high and the lily oh_! 70
"A rope and gallows to hang him on,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
"What would you give to your brother John's wife?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"A widow's weeds, and a quiet life," 75
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.
THE CRUEL MOTHER. See p. 262.
From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 222.
It fell ance upon a day, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
It fell ance upon a day, _Stirling for aye_;
It fell ance upon a day,
The clerk and lady went to play,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 5
"If my baby be a son, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
If my baby be a son, _Stirling for aye_;
If my baby be a son,
I'll make him a lord o' high renown,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 10
She's lean'd her back to the wa', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's lean'd her back to the wa', _Stirling for aye_;
She's lean'd her back to the wa',
Pray'd that her pains might fa',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 15
She's lean'd her back to the thorn, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's lean'd her back to the thorn, _Stirling for aye_;
She's lean'd her back to the thorn,
There has her baby born,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 20
"O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, _Stirling for aye_;
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair,
You'll never suck by my side mair,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 25
She's riven the muslin frae her head, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's riven the muslin frae her head, _Stirling for aye_;
She's riven the muslin frae her head,
Tied the baby hand and feet,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 30
Out she took her little penknife, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
Out she took her little penknife, _Stirling for aye_;
Out she took her little penknife,
Twin'd the young thing o' its life,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 35
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, _Stirling for aye_;
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen,
There laid her sweet baby in,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 40
She had her to her father's ha', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She had her to her father's ha', _Stirling for aye_;
She had her to her father's ha',
She was the meekest maid amang them a',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 45
It fell ance upon a day, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
It fell ance upon a day, _Stirling for aye_;
It fell ance upon a day,
She saw twa babies at their play,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 50
"O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, _Stirling for aye_;
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine,
I'd cleathe you in the silks sae fine,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 55
"O wild mother, when we were thine, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O wild mother, when we were thine, _Stirling for aye_;
O wild mother, when we were thine,
You cleath'd us not in silks sae fine,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 60
"But now we're in the heavens high, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
But now we're in the heavens high, _Stirling for aye_;
But now we're in the heavens high,
And you've the pains o' hell to try,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 65
She threw hersell ower the castle-wa', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She threw hersell ower the castle-wa', _Stirling for aye_;
She threw hersell ower the castle-wa',
There I wat she got a fa',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 70
THE MINISTER'S DOCHTER O' NEWARKE.
See p. 262.
From _Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_, Percy
Society, vol. xvii. p. 51. This is the same ballad, with trifling
variations, as _The Minister's Daughter of New York_, Buchan, ii.
217.
The Minister's dochter o' Newarke,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Has fa'en in luve wi' her father's clerk,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
She courted him sax years and a day, 5
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
At length her fause-luve did her betray,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
She did her doun to the green woods gang,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 10
To spend awa' a while o' her time,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
She lent her back unto a thorn,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_;
And she's got her twa bonnie boys born, 15
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
She's ta'en the ribbons frae her hair,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Boun' their bodies fast and sair,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 20
She's put them aneath a marble stane,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Thinkin' a may to gae her hame,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
Leukin' o'er her castel wa', 25
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
She spied twa bonny boys at the ba',
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"O bonny babies, if ye were mine,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 30
I woud feed ye wi' the white bread and wine,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"I wou'd feed ye with the ferra cow's milk,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
An' dress ye i' the finest silk," 35
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"O cruel mother, when we were thine,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
We saw nane o' your bread and wine,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 40
"We saw nane o' your ferra cow's milk,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Nor wore we o' your finest silk,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"O bonny babies, can ye tell me, 45
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
What sort o' death for ye I maun dee,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"Yes, cruel mother, we'll tell to thee,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 50
What sort o' death for us ye maun dee,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"Seven years a fool i' the woods,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
"Seven years a fish i' the floods, 55
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"Seven years to be a church bell,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Seven years a porter i' hell,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 60
"Welcome, welcome, fool i' the wood,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Welcome, welcome, fish i' the flood,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
"Welcome, welcome, to be a church bell, 65
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
But heavens keep me out o' hell,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.
BONDSEY AND MAISRY. See p. 298.
From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 265.
"O come along wi' me, brother,
Now come along wi' me;
And we'll gae seek our sister Maisry,
Into the water o' Dee."
The eldest brother he stepped in, 5
He stepped to the knee;
Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,
Says, "This water's nae for me."
The second brother he stepped in,
He stepped to the quit; 10
Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,
Says, "This water's wond'rous deep."
When the third brother stepped in,
He stepped to the chin;
Out he got, and forward wade, 15
For fear o' drowning him.
The youngest brother he stepped in,
Took 's sister by the hand;
Said, "Here she is, my sister Maisry,
Wi' the hinny draps on her chin. 20
"O if I were in some bonny ship,
And in some strange countrie,
For to find out some conjurer,
To gar Maisry speak to me!"
Then out it speaks an auld woman, 25
As she was passing by;
"Ask of your sister what you want,
And she will speak to thee."
"O sister, tell me who is the man,
That did your body win? 30
And who is the wretch, tell me, likewise,
That threw you in the lin?"
"O Bondsey was the only man
That did my body win;
And likewise Bondsey was the man 35
That threw me in the lin."
"O will we Bondsey head, sister?
Or will we Bondsey hang?
Or will we set him at our bow end,
Lat arrows at him gang?" 40
"Ye winna Bondsey head, brothers,
Nor will ye Bondsey hang;
But ye'll take out his twa grey e'en,
Make Bondsey blind to gang.
"Ye'll put to the gate a chain o' gold, 45
A rose garland gar make;
And ye'll put that in Bondsey's head,
A' for your sister's sake."
LADY DIAMOND.
From the Percy Society Publications, xvii. 71. The same in Buchan,
ii. 206. The ballad is given in Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, under the
title of _Dysmal_, and by Aytoun, _Ballads of Scotland_, 2d ed., ii.
173, under that of _Lady Daisy_. All these names are corruptions of
Ghismonda, on whose well-known story (_Decamerone_, iv. 1, 9) the
present is founded.--This piece and the next might better have been
inserted at p. 347, as a part of the Appendix to Book III.
There was a king, an' a curious king,
An' a king o' royal fame;
He had ae dochter, he had never mair,
Ladye Diamond was her name.
She's fa'en into shame, an' lost her gude name, 5
An' wrought her parents 'noy;
An' a' for her layen her luve so low,
On her father's kitchen boy.
Ae nicht as she lay on her bed,
Just thinkin' to get rest, 10
Up it came her old father,
Just like a wanderin' ghaist.
"Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,
"Rise up, put on your goun;
Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says, 15
"For I fear ye gae too roun'."
"Too roun I gae, yet blame me nae;
Ye'll cause me na to shame;
For better luve I that bonnie boy
Than a' your weel-bred men." 20
The king's ca'd up his wa'-wight men,
That he paid meat an' fee:
"Bring here to me that bonnie boy,
An' we'll smore him right quietlie."
Up hae they ta'en that bonnie boy, 25
Put him 'tween twa feather beds;
Naethin' was dane, nor naethin' said,
Till that bonnie bonnie boy was dead.
The king's ta'en out a braid braid sword,
An' streak'd it on a strae; 30
An' thro' an' thro' that bonnie boy's heart
He's gart cauld iron gae.
Out has he ta'en his poor bluidie heart,
Set it in a tasse o' gowd,
And set it before ladye Diamonds face, 35
Said "Fair ladye, behold!"
Up has she ta'en this poor bludie heart,
An' holden it in her han';
"Better luved I that bonnie bonnie boy
Than a' my father's lan'." 40
Up has she ta'en his poor bludie heart,
An' laid it at her head;
The tears awa' frae her eyne did flee,
An' ere midnicht she was dead.
THE WEST COUNTRY DAMOSELS COMPLAINT.
From Collier's _Book of Roxburghe Ballads_, p. 202.
After a broadside "printed by P. Brooksby, at the Golden Bull in
Westsmith-field, neer the Hospitall Gate." The first ten or twelve
stanzas seem to be ancient.
"When will you marry me, William,
And make me your wedded wife?
Or take you your keen bright sword,
And rid me out of my life."
"Say no more then so,[L5] lady, 5
Say you no more then so,
For you shall unto the wild forrest,
And amongst the buck and doe.
"Where thou shalt eat of the hips and haws,
And the roots that are so sweet, 10
And thou shalt drink of the cold water
That runs underneath your feet."
Now had she not been in the wild forrest
Passing three months and a day,
But with hunger and cold she had her fill, 15
Till she was quite worn away.
At last she saw a fair tyl'd house,
And there she swore by the rood,
That she would to that fair tyl'd house,
There for to get her some food. 20
But when she came unto the gates,
Aloud, aloud she cry'd,
"An alms, an alms, my own sister!
I ask you for no pride."
Her sister call'd up her merry men all, 25
By one, by two, and by three,
And bid them hunt away that wild doe,
As far as e'er they could see.
They hunted her o're hill and dale,
And they hunted her so sore, 30
That they hunted her into the forrest,
Where her sorrows grew more and more.
She laid a stone all at her head,
And another all at her feet,
And down she lay between these two, 35
Till death had lull'd her asleep.
When sweet Will came and stood at her head,
And likewise stood at her feet,
A thousand times he kiss'd her cold lips,
Her body being fast asleep. 40
Yea, seaven times he stood at her feet,
And seaven times at her head;
A thousand times he shook her hand,
Although her body was dead.
"Ah wretched me!" he loudly cry'd, 45
"What is it that I have done?
O wou'd to the powers above I'de dy'd,
When thus I left her alone!
"Come, come, you gentle red-breast now,
And prepare for us a tomb, 50
Whilst unto cruel Death I bow,
And sing like a swan my doom.
"Why could I ever cruel be
Unto so fair a creature;
Alas! she dy'd for love of me, 55
The loveliest she in nature!
"For me she left her home so fair
To wander in this wild grove,
And there with sighs and pensive care
She ended her life for love. 60
"O constancy, in her thou'rt lost!
Now let women boast no more;
She's fled unto the Elizian coast,
And with her carry'd the store.
"O break, my heart, with sorrow fill'd, 65
Come, swell, you strong tides of grief!
You that my dear love have kill'd,
Come, yield in death to me relief.
"Cruel her sister, was't for me
That to her she was unkind? 70
Her husband I will never be,
But with this my love be joyn'd.
"Grim Death shall tye the marriage bands,
Which jealousie shan't divide;
Together shall tye our cold hands, 75
Whilst here we lye side by side.
"Witness, ye groves, and chrystal streams,
How faithless I late have been;
But do repent with dying leaves
Of that my ungrateful sin; 80
"And wish a thousand times that I
Had been but to her more kind,
And not have let a virgin dye,
Whose equal there's none can find.
"Now heaps of sorrow press my soul; 85
Now, now 'tis she takes her way;
I come, my love, without controule,
Nor from thee will longer stay."
With that he fetch'd a heavy groan,
Which rent his tender breast, 90
And then by her he laid him down,
When as Death did give him rest.
Whilst mournful birds, with leavy bows,
To them a kind burial gave,
And warbled out their love-sick vows, 95
Whilst they both slept in their grave.
5, so then.
THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER. See p. 114.
From Bell's _Ballads of the Peasantry of England_, p. 122.
This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old
Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last
stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of
transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well
preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the
corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which
have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that in
_Hildebrand og Hilde_ (Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank
here ascribed to the lady.
"Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand,
Kongens s[:o]nn aff Engeland."
The "old Carl Hood" who gives the alarm in this ballad, is called in
most of the Danish ballads "a rich earl"; in one a treacherous man,
in another a young Carl, and in a third an old man; which together
furnish the elements of his character here of a treacherous old
Carl.
O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand?
_Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!_
He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England,
_I' the brave nights so early._
She was scarcely fifteen years that tide,
When sae boldly she came to his bed-side.
"O Earl Brand, how fain wad I see 5
A pack of hounds let loose on the lea."
"O lady fair, I have no steed but one,
But thou shalt ride and I will run."
"O Earl Brand, but my father has two,
And thou shalt have the best of tho." 10
Now they have ridden o'er moss and moor,
And they have met neither rich nor poor.
Till at last they met with old Carl Hood,
He's aye for ill, and never for good.
"Now, Earl Brand, an ye love me, 15
Slay this old carl, and gar him dee."
"O lady fair, but that would be sair,
To slay an auld carl that wears grey hair.
"My own lady fair, I'll not do that,
I'll pay him his fee......." 20
"O where have ye ridden this lee lang day,
And where have ye stown this fair lady away?"
"I have not ridden this lee lang day,
Nor yet have I stown this lady away.
"For she is, I trow, my sick sister, 25
Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester."
"If she's been sick, and nigh to dead,
What makes her wear the ribbon so red?
"If she's been sick, and like to die,
What makes her wear the gold sae high?" 30
When came the carl to the lady's yett,
He rudely, rudely rapped thereat.
"Now where is the lady of this hall?"
"She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball."
"Ha, ha, ha! ye are all mista'en; 35
Ye may count your maidens owre again.
"I met her far beyond the lea,
With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be."
Her father of his best men armed fifteen,
And they're ridden after them bidene. 40
The lady looked owre her left shoulder then;
Says, "O Earl Brand, we are both of us ta'en."
"If they come on me one by one,
You may stand by till the fights be done.
"But if they come on me one and all, 45
You may stand by and see me fall."
They came upon him one by one,
Till fourteen battles he has won.
And fourteen men he has them slain,
Each after each upon the plain. 50
But the fifteenth man behind stole round,
And dealt him a deep and deadly wound.
Though he was wounded to the deid,
He set his lady on her steed.
They rode till they came to the river Doune, 55
And there they lighted to wash his wound.
"O Earl Brand, I see your heart's blood!"
"It's nothing but the glent and my scarlet hood."[L58]
They rode till they came to his mother's yett,
So faint and feebly he rapped thereat. 60
"O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon,
And it's all for the sake of an English loon!"
"O say not so, my dearest mother,
But marry her to my youngest brother.
"To a maiden true he'll give his hand, 65
To the king's daughter o' fair England.
"[To the king's daughter o' fair England,]
_Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!_
To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand,"
_I' the brave nights so early._
58. Qy.? _of_ my scarlet hood.
LA VENDICATRICE. See p. 273.
From _Canti Popolari Inediti Umbri, Piceni, Piemontesi, Latini,
raccolti e illustrati da_ ORESTE MARCOALDI. Genova, 1855. p.
167.--From Alessandria.
"Oh varda ben, Munfrenna,[L1]
Oh varda qul cast[e']:[L2]
I'[e'] trentatr[e'] fantenni[L3]
Ch' a j' ho menaji me.[L4]
I m' han neg[a'][L5] l' amure,
La testa a j' ho taj[e']."[L6]
"Ch' u 'm digga l[:u], Sior[L7] Conte;
Ch' u 'm lassa la so' sp[a']."[L8]
"Oh dim[i'] ti, Monfrenna,
Cosa ch' a 't na voi fa'?"[L10]
"A voi taj[e'][L11] 'na frasca,
Per ombra al me' cav[a']."[L12]
Lesta con la spadenna[L13]
Al cor a j' ha pass[a'].
"Va l[a'], va l[a'], Sior Conte,
Va l[a'] 'nte quei boscon;[L16]
Le spenni[L17] e li serpenti
Saran toi[L18] compagnon."
1 guarda ben, Monferina.
2 quel castello.
3 fanciulle.
4 menate io.
5 negato.
6 tagliato.
7 dica lei, signor.
8 sua spada.
10 vuoi fare.
11 tagliare.
12 cavallo.
13 spadina.
16 (_boscon_) cespugli.
17 spine.
18 tuoi.
GLOSSARY.
[pointing hand] Figures placed after words denote the pages in which
they occur.
aboon, _above_, _upon_.
abound, 335, _bound_.
abune a' thing, _above all things_.
a dee, 335, _to do_.
ae, _one_.
aft, _oft_.
aith, _oath_.
an, _if_.
ance, _once_.
anent, _opposite to_.
are, _early_.
assoile, _absolve_.
aucht, _owns_;
wha is aucht that bairn? _who is it owns that child?_
ava, _of all_.
a-warslin, _a wrestling_.
ayont, _beyond_.
ba', _ball_.
badena, _abode not_.
bairn, _child_.
baith, _both_.
ban, 89, _bond_.
beet, 340, _add fuel_.
bierdly, _large and well-made_, _stately_.
biggins, _buildings_.
ben, _in_, _within_.
bestan, _best_.
best young man, _bridesman_.
bidden, _bidding_.
bidene, _in a company_, _forthwith_ (?)
billie, _comrade_, _brother_.
binna, _beest not_.
birk, _birch_.
birling, _pouring out_ [_drink_], _drinking_.
blan, _ceased_, _stopped_.
blate, _sheepish_, _ashamed_.
blear, [noun,] _dimness_.
blinkit, _blinked_, _winked_.
blinne, _cease_.
borrow, _ransom_.
bouerie, _chamber_.
boun, _ready_.
bour, bower, _chamber_.
bra', braw, _handsome_.
bracken, _female fern_.
brae, _hill-side_.
braid, _broad_.
brain, _mad_.
brent, _burnt_;
308, v. 31, _straight_?
bridesteel, (Buchan,) 183, _bridal_?
brigg, brigue, _bridge_.
broo, _broth_.
brook, _enjoy_.
brunt, _burnt_.
buird, _board_.
burd, _lady_.
burn, _brook_.
busking, _dressing_, _making ready_.
but, butt, _without_.
but and, _and also_.
byre, _cow-house_.
ca', _call_.
cannel, 327. Qy. a corruption?
canny, _knowing_, _expert_, _gentle_, _adroitly_, _carefully_.
cast, _trick_, _turn_.
channerin, _fretting_.
chap, _tap_, _rap_;
chappit, 11, _tapped_, _rapped_;
at the chin, _should probably be_ at the pin, _or tongue of the
latch_.
cheir, _cheer_.
claise, _clothes_.
clap, _fondle_;
clappit, _patted_, _fondled_.
cleading, _clothing_.
clecked, _hatched_.
cleed, _clothe_.
cleiding, _clothing_.
clerks, _scholars_.
cliding, _clothing_.
close, _lane_.
cod, _pillow_.
coil, 324, _cock of hay_.
coost, _cast_.
could, _used with the infinitive as an auxiliary, to form a past
tense_.
crap, _crop_, _top_.
croodlin doo, _cooing dove_.
crowse, _brisk_.
cuik, _cook_.
curches, _kerchiefs_. R. Jamieson, "_linen caps tying under the
chin._"
cuttit, _cut_.
dabs, _pricks_.
dang, 301, _overcome_;
361, _pushed_.
dapperby, 189, _dapper_?
daut, _fondle_, _caress_.
daw, _dawn_.
dead, _death_.
dear-boucht, _dear-bought_.
deas, _sometimes a pew in a church_.
dee, _die_.
dee, do, _avail_.
deid, _death_.
deight, dight, _decked_.
den, _valley_.
depart, 124, _part_.
dight, 253, _skilfully_, _readily_?
dighted, _dressed_, _wiped_.
dine, _dinner_.
ding, _strike_.
dinna, _do not_.
disna, _does not_.
dool, _sorrow_.
dout, _fear_.
dowie, _mournful_, _sad_, _gloomy_.
downa, _cannot_.
dows, _doves_.
dreaded, _doubted_.
dree, _suffer_.
drew up with, 94, _formed relations of love with_.
drie, _suffer_.
drumly, _troubled_.
dule, _grief_, _sorrow_.
dune, _done_.
dwines, _dwindles_.
e'e, _eye_.
een, _eye_, _eyes_.
eneuch, _enough_.
ezer, _azure_.
fadge, _clumsy woman_.
faem, _foam_.
fare, _go_.
farrow-cow, _a barren cow_.
fee, _property_, _wages_.
fell, _hill_.
fell, _strange_.
ferra cow, _farrow cow_, _a cow not with calf_.
ffree, _noble_.
firstan, firstand, _first_.
fit, _foot_.
fitches, 329, _flitches_?
flang'd, _flung_.
fleed, _flood_.
foremost man, _bridesman_.
forlorn, _lost_.
fou, fow, _full_.
frush, _brittle_.
fur, furrow, _a furrows length_, _furlong_.
gaed, _went_.
gair, 354, _gore_, _strip_. See gare.
gang, _go_;
gangs, _goes_.
gar, _make_.
gare, 55, _gore_;
apparently, here, _skirt_. So, hung low down by his gair, 296, _by
the edge of his frock_. The word seems also to be used vaguely
in romances for _clothing_.
garl, _gravel_.
gate, _way_.
gear, _goods_, _clothes_.
gin, _trick_, _wile_.
gleed, _a burning coal_;
97, _blaze_.
glent, _gleam_, _glimmer_.
gone, _go_.
gowd, _gold_;
gowden, _golden_.
gowk, _fool_.
gravat, _cravat_?
greaf, _grave_.
greet, _cry_, _weep_.
gris, _a costly fur_.
grit, _big_.
groom, _man_.
gross, _heavy_.
gryte, _great_, _big_.
Gude, _God_.
ha', _hall_.
had her, _betook her_.
hallow-days, _holidays_.
haly, _holy_.
happit, _covered_.
hass, _neck_.
haud, _hold_;
haud unthought lang, _keep from ennui_.
hause, _neck_.
head, _behead_.
healy, _slowly_, _softly_.
heght, _promised_.
her lane, _herself alone_.
herried, _robbed_.
hich, _high_.
hinny, _honey_.
hip, _the berry which contains the stones or seeds of the dog-rose_.
hooly, _slowly_, _gently_.
how, _ho!_
hows, _hollows_, _dells_.
howket, _dug_.
huggell, _huddle_, _cuddle_.
huly, _slowly_.
intill, _into_, _in_.
into, _on_.
iwis, _certainly_.
jaw, 233, _wave_.
jawing, _dashing_.
jimp, _slender_.
jo, _sweetheart_.
jollie, _handsome_.
jow, _stroke in tolling_.
kell, _caul_, _a species of cap, or net-work, worn by women as a
head-dress_.
kembe, _comb_;
kembing, _combing_.
kenna, _know not_;
kentna, _knew not_.
kens, _knows_.
kerches, _kerchiefs_.
kilted, _tucked up_.
kin, _kind_;
a' kin, _all kind_.
kist, _chest_.
kitchey, _kitchen_.
know, _knoll_.
kye, _cows_.
kythe, _become_, _manifest_.
laigh, _low_.
lain, _alone_;
ye're your lain, _you are alone_;
hir lain, _her alone_.
lair, _learning_.
lane, _alone_;
the same in combination with the pronouns _my_, _his_, _her_,
_its_, _&c._
lap, _leapt_.
latten, _let_.
lauch, _laugh_.
laumer, 327, _amber_.
lave, _rest_.
lealest, _truest_, _chastest_.
lear, _lore_, _lesson_.
lease, _leash_.
lee, _lonesome_.
lee-lang, _livelong_.
lei, 132, _lonesome_.
len, _lie_.
lent, _leaned_.
let, _stop_, _delay_.
leuch, leugh, _laughed_.
lichtly, _lightly_.
lig, _lie_.
lighter, _delivered_.
limmers, _strumpets_.
linn, _the pool under a cataract_, _cataract_.
lith, _joint_.
lither, _naughty_, _wicked_.
looten, _let_.
loup, _leap_.
lourd, _liefer_, _rather_.
louted, _bent_.
louze, _loosen_.
lykewake, _watching of a dead body_.
mae, _more_.
maene, moan, _lamentation_.
maist, 58, maistly, _almost_.
make, _mate_.
mane, _moan_.
maries, _maids_.
marrow, _mate_.
mat, _may_.
maun, _must_.
maunna, _may not_.
may, _maid_.
meen, _moan_, _lament_.
message, _messenger_.
micht, _might_.
mind, _remember_.
mirk, _murky_.
mith, _might_.
Moll Syms, 359, _a celebrated dance tune of the 16th century_.
mools, _the earth of the grave_, _the dust of the dead_.
mot, _may_.
my lane, _alone by myself_.
niest, _next_.
nourice, _nurse_.
oer, ower, _over_, _too_.
ohon, _alas_.
owsen, _oxen_.
Owsenford, _Oxford_.
pa', pall, _rich cloth_.
Parish, _Paris_.
part, 151, _separate from_.
pat, _pot_.
pearlin' gear, _pearl ornaments_.
pin, _door-latch_.
plat, _plaited_.
plea, _quarrel_.
pot, _a pool_, _or deep place, in a river_.
prin, _pin_.
propine, _gift_.
putten down, _hung_.
queet, quit, _ancle_.
quhair, quhat, quhy, &c., _where_, _what_, _why_, _&c._
rair'd, _roared_.
rave, _tore off_.
reavel'd, _tangled_.
rede, _advice_, _advise_;
263, _story_.
reest, _roost_.
renown, [Buchan,] 169, _haughtiness_?
rigland shire, 331?
rin, _run_.
ritted, _routed_, _struck_.
riv't, _tear it_.
row, _roll_.
row'd, _rolled_.
sabelline, _sable_.
sanna, _shall not_.
sarbit, _an exclamation of sorrow_.
sark, _shirt_.
saugh, _willow_.
scheet, _school_.
schill, _shrill_.
scug, _expiate_.
see, (save and,) _protect_.
seen, sen, _then_, _since_.
send, 334, _the messengers sent for the bride at a wedding_.
sets, _suits_.
shed by, 77, _parted_, _put back_.
sheen, _shine_.
sheen, _shoes_.
sheet, _shoot_.
sheuch, _furrow_, _ditch_.
shimmerd, _shone_.
shot-window, _a projected window_.
sic, _such_.
sich, _sigh_.
sindle, _seldom_.
sinsyne, _since_.
skinkled, _sparkled_.
slack, _a gap or pass between two hills_.
slait, _passed across_, _whetted_.
slap, _a narrow pass between two hills_.
smore, _smother_.
snood, _a fillet or ribbon for the hair_.
socht, _sought_.
sorray, _sorrow_.
soum, sowm, _swim_.
spakes, _spokes_, _bars_.
speer, speir, _ask_.
spreckl'd, _speckled_.
stap, _stuff_.
stean, _stone_.
steek'd, _fastened_.
stey, _steep_.
stint, _stop_.
stock, _the forepart of a bed_.
stout, 300, _haughty_.
strae, stray, _straw_.
straiked, streaked, _stroked_, _drew_.
streek, _stretch_;
streekit, _stretched_;
streikit, _laid out_.
striped, _thrust_.
suld, _should_.
syke, _marshy bottom_.
syne, _then_, _afterwards_.
tane, _one_, [_after the._]
tasse, _cup_.
tate, _lock_ (_of hair_).
tee, _too_.
teem, _empty_.
teen, _sorrow_, _suffering_.
tent, _heed_.
thae, _these_.
the, _thrive_.
thegither, _together_.
thir, tho, _these_, _those_.
thorn'd, 335, _eaten_?
thought lang, _felt ennui_.
thouth, _thought_, _seemed_.
thraw, 302, _writhe_, _twist_;
thrawen, _crooked_.
thresel-cock, _throstle_, _thrush_.
threw, 130, _throve_.
thrild upon a pinn. See _tirled_ below.
tift, _puff_ (_of wind_).
till, _to_, _on_.
tirled at the pin, _trilled or rattled, at the door-latch, to obtain
entrance_.
tither, _other_.
tocher, _dowry_.
toomly, _empty_.
tow, _rope_.
triest, tryst, _make an assignation_.
true, _trow_.
twain, _part_.
twal, _twelve_.
twin, _part_;
twinn'd, _deprived_, _parted_.
unco, _unknown_, _strange_.
virr, _strength_.
vow, _interjection of surprise_.
wad, _would_.
wadded, _wagered_, _staked_.
wadding, _wedding_.
wae, waeful', _sad_, _sorrowful_.
waked, _watched_.
walde, _would_.
wale, _choice_.
wambe, wame, _womb_.
wan, _reached_.
wand, wandie, _bough_, _wand_, _stick_.
wan na in, _got not in_.
wap, _throw_.
wappit, _beat_, _fluttered_.
warde, 35, _advise_, _forewarn_.
wark, _work_.
warlock, _wizzard_.
warstan, _worst_.
warstled, _wrestled_.
wat, _know_.
water-kelpy, _a malicious spirit thought to haunt fords and ferries,
especially in storms, and to swell the waters beyond their
ordinary limit, for the destruction of luckless travellers_.
wavers, 40, _wanders_.
wa'-wight, 383, _waled_, _picked_, _strong-men or warriors_. See
vol. vi. 220, v. 15.
wean, _child_.
wee, _little_.
weed, _dress_.
weir-horse, _war-horse_.
werne, _were_.
wha is aught, _who is it owns_.
whang, _thong_.
whaten, _what_.
wicht, _strong_, _agile_.
widdershins, _the contrary way_, _round about_.
wide, _wade_.
wight, _strong_, _agile_.
win, _arrive_, _reach_, _come_, _get_.
winna, _will not_.
winsome, _charming_, _attractive_.
woe, _sad_.
won up, _got up_.
wood, _mad_;
wood-wroth, _mad with anger_.
worth, _be_;
wae worth you, _sorrow come upon you_.
wow, _alas_.
wraith, _wroth_.
wrongous, _wrong_.
wull, _will_.
wyte, _punish_, _blame_.
yae, _every_.
yare, _ready_.
yeats, yetts, _gates_.
yestreen, _yesterday_.
yird-fast, _fixed in the earth_.
yode, _went_.
yont, _beyond_, _further off_.
Yule, _Christmas_.
ze, zet, zour, &c., _ye_, _yet_, _your_.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Irregular and inconsistent spellings have been retained as in the
original. Typographical errors such as wrongly placed line numbers
and punctuation have been corrected without comment. Where changes
have been made to the wording these are listed as follows:
Page 10, line 33: added missing opening quotation mark ("But look that
ye tell na Gib your man,...)
Page 38, line note 157: reference originally read "177".
Page 55, line 47, 48: added missing quotation marks (Lye yont, lye yont,
Willie," she says, / "For your sweat I downa bide O.")
Page 97, line 97: added final comma ("Now haud your tongue, my lord," she
said, ...)
Page 118, line 58, 59: removed unnecessary quotation mark ("Get up, and
let me in!-- / Get up, get up, lady mother," he says, ...)
Page 119, line 71: deleted duplicate "the" (Out o' the lady's grave
grew a bonny red rose).
Page 184, line 50: deleted erroneous closing quotation mark (Says,
"What means a' this mourning?)
Page 189, line 41 and page 396: "dapperpy" appears in the text but is
"dapperby" in the Glossary (O he has pou'd aff his dapperby coat, ...)
Page 227, line 41: added open quotation mark ("And quhat wul ze leive to
zour bairns and zour wife,)
Page 263 line 16: added missing period (A playing at the ba'."--)
Page 270, line 24: changed "Doan" to "Doun" (Doun by the greenwud
sae bonnie)
Page 300: added missing closing quotation mark (... taken place in
Bothwell church." SCOTT.)
Page 338, line 11: changed "Majorie" to "Marjorie" (That Lady
Marjorie she gaes wi' child, ...)
Page 347: heading "Book IV" removed. Note that it does not appear in the
Table of Contents and there are several references to ballads and page
numbers after this point as part of the Appendix. Note also that Volume
3 starts with "Book III (continued)".
Page 352, line 42: added closing quotation mark ("Where leav'st thou thy
youthful daughter, / Merry son of mine?")
Page 401, changed "widdershius" to "widdershins" (widdershins, _the
contrary way_, _round about_.)