* * * * *
K
“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 22 f; in the
handwriting of William Laidlaw. “From Jean Scott.” This version
resembles #E#.
1
Marjorie was her father’s dear,
Her mother’s only heir,
An she’s away to Strawberry Castle,
To learn some unco lear.
2
She had na been i Strawberry Castle
A year but barely three
Till Marjorie turnd big wi child,
As big as big could be.
* * * * * *
3
‘Will ye hae that old, old man
To be yer daily mate,
Or will ye burn in fire strong
For your true lover’s sake?’
4
‘I winna marry that old, old man
To be my daily mate;
I’ll rather burn i fire strong
For my true lover’s sake.
* * * * * *
5
‘O where will I get a bonnie boy
That will win hose an shoon
An will gae rin to Strawberry Castle,
To gar my good lord come soon?’
6
‘Here am I, a bonnie boy
That will win hose an shoon,
An I’ll gae rin to Strawberry Castle,
And gar your lord come soon.’
7
‘Should ye come to a brocken brig,
Than bend your bow an swim;
An whan ye com to garse growin
Set down yer feet an rin.’
8
When eer he came to brigs broken,
He bent his bow an swam,
And whan he cam to grass growin
He set down his feet an ran.
7
When eer he cam to Strawberry Castle
He tirlt at the pin;
There was nane sae ready as that young lord
To open an let him in.
8
‘Is there ony o my brigs broken?
Or ony o my castles win?
Or is my lady brought to bed
Of a daughter or a son?’
9
‘There’s nane o a’ yer brigs broken,
Ther’s nane of your castles win;
But the fairest lady in a’ your land
This day for you will burn.’
10
‘Gar saddle me the black, black horse,
Gar saddle me the brown,
Gar saddle me the swiftest stead
That eer carried man to town.’
11
He’s burstit the black unto the slack,
The grey unto the brae,
An ay the page that ran afore
Cried, Ride, sir, an ye may.
12
Her father kindlet the bale-fire,
Her brother set the stake,
Her mother sat an saw her burn,
An never cried Alack!
13
‘Beet on, beet [on], my cruel father,
For you I cound nae friend;
But for fifteen well mete mile
I’ll hear my love’s bridle ring.’
14
When he cam to the bonnie Dundee,
He lightit wi a glent;
Wi jet-black boots an glittrin spurs
Through that bale-fire he went.
15
He thought his love wad hae datit him,
But she was dead an gane;
He was na sae wae for that lady
As he was for her yong son.
16
‘But I’ll gar burn for you, Marjorie,
Yer father an yer mother,
An I’ll gar burn for you, Marjorie,
Your sister an your brother.
17
‘An I will burn for you, Marjorie,
The town that ye’r brunt in,
An monie ane’s be fatherless
That has but little sin.’