The word had origin-
ally no offensive meaning.
ally no offensive meaning.
Warner - World's Best Literature - v03 - Bag to Ber
1328 (#118) ###########################################
1328
THE BALLAD
11.
«What news, what news? ” says the Seven Forsters,
“What news have ye brought to me ? ”
“I have no news,” the palmer said,
« But what I saw with my eye.
I 2.
“As I came in by Braidisbanks,
And down among the whuns,
The bonniest youngster e'er I saw
Lay sleepin amang his hunds.
13.
« The shirt that was upon his back
Was o' the holland fine;
The doublet which was over that
Was o' the Lincoln twine. "
14. Up bespake the Seven Forsters,
Up bespake they ane and a':
“O that is Johnie o' Cockleys Well,
And near him we will draw. ”
15. O the first stroke that they gae him,
They struck him off by the knee;
Then up bespake his sister's son:
“O the next 'll gar' him die! ”
16.
“O some they count ye well wight men,
But I do count ye nane;
For you might well ha' waken'd me,
And ask'd gin I wad be ta'en.
17.
« The wildest wolf as in a' this wood
Wad not ha' done so by me;
She'd ha' wet her foot i' the wan water,
And sprinkled it o'er my brae,
And if that wad not ha' waken'd ine,
She wad ha' gone and let me be.
18. “O bows of yew, if ye be true,
In London, where ye were bought,
Fingers five, get up belive,?
Manhuid shall fail me nought. ”
19. He has kill'd the Seven Forsters,
He has kill'd them all but ane,
And that wan scarce to Pickeram Side,
To carry the bode-words hame.
Make, cause.
? Quickly.
## p. 1329 (#119) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1329
20.
“Is there never a [bird) in a' this wood
That will tell what I can say;
That will go to Cockleys Well,
Tell my mither to fetch me away? ”
There was a [bird] into that wood,
That carried the tidings away,
And many ael was the well-wight man
At the fetching o' Johnie away.
21.
SIR PATRICK SPENS
I.
Tthe :
He king sits in Dumferling toune,
Drinking the blude-reid wine:
“O whar will I get guid sailor,
To sail this ship of mine ? ”
2. Up and spak an eldern knight,
Sat at the kings right kne:
«Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor,
That sails upon the sea. ”
3. The king has written a braid letter,”
And sign'd it wi' his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the sand.
The first line that Sir Patrick read,
A loud laugh laughed he;
The next line that Sir Patrick read,
The tear blinded his ee.
5.
« O wha is this has done this deed,
This ill deed done to me,
To send me out this time o' the year,
To sail upon the sea!
6. “Make haste, make haste, my mirry men all,
Our guide ship sails the morne :)
“O say na sae, my master dear,
For I fear a deadlie storme.
7.
“Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone,
Wi' the auld moone in hir arme,
i One.
2 «A braid letter, open or patent, in opposition to close rolls. ” — Percy.
3 Note that it is the sight of the new moon late in the evening which
makes a bad omen.
III-84
## p. 1330 (#120) ###########################################
1330
THE BALLAD
And I fear, I fear, my dear master,
That we will come to harme. ”
8.
9.
O our Scots nobles were right laith
To weet their cork-heeled shoone;
But lang owre a' the play wer play'd,
Their hats they swam aboone.
O lang, lang may their ladies sit,
W' their fans into their hand,
Or e'er they see Sir Patrick Spens
Cum sailing to the land.
O lang, lang may the ladies stand,
Wi’ their gold kems? in their hair,
Waiting for their ain dear lords,
For they'll se thame na mair.
Half owre, half owre to Aberdour,
It's fiftie fadom deep,
And their lies guid Sir Patrick Spens,
Wi' the Scots lords at his feet.
10.
II.
THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY?
1.
Y®
E HIGHLANDS, and ye Lawlands,
Oh where have you been?
They have slain the Earl of Murray,
And they layd him on the green.
"Now wae be to thee, Huntly!
And wherefore did you sae ?
I bade you bring him wi' you,
But forbade you him to slay. ”
2.
3. He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring;3
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he might have been a king!
4. He was a braw gallant,
And he play'd at the ba';
And the bonny Earl of Murray
Was the flower amang them a'.
1 Combs.
James Stewart, Earl of Murray, was killed by the Earl of Huntly's fol-
lowers, February, 1592. The second stanza is spoken, of course, by the King.
Piercing with the lance a suspended ring, as one rode at full speed, was
a favorite sport of the day.
2
3
## p. 1331 (#121) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1331
5.
He was a braw gallant,
And he play'd at the glove;?
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he was the Queen's love!
Oh lang will his lady
Look o'er the Castle Down,
E'er she see the Earl of Murray
Come sounding thro the town!
6.
MARY HAMILTON
1.
WORD
2.
ORD's gane to the kitchen,
And word's gane to the ha',
That Marie Hamilton has born a bairn
To the highest Stewart of a'.
She's tyed it in her apron
And she's thrown it in the sea;
Says, Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe,
You'll ne'er get mair o' me. ”
Down then cam the auld Queen,
Goud ? tassels tying her hair:
“O Marie, where's the bonny wee babe
That I heard greet' sae sair ? ”
« There was never a babe intill my room,
As little designs to be;
It was but a touch o' my sair side,
Came o'er my fair bodie. ”
3.
4.
5.
"O Marie, put on your robes o' black,
Or else your robes o’ brown,
For ye maun gang wi' me the night,
To see fair Edinbro town. ”
6. "I winna put on my robes o' black,
Nor yet my robes o’ brown;
But I'll put on my robes o' white,
To shine through Edinbro town. ”
7.
When she gaed up the Cannogate,
She laugh'd loud laughters three;
But when she cam down the Cannogate
The tear blinded her ee.
1 Probably this reference is to the glove worn by knights as a lady's favor.
2 Gold.
3 Weep.
## p. 1332 (#122) ###########################################
1332
THE BALLAD
8.
When she gaed up the Parliament stair,
The heel cam aff her shee;?
And lang or she cam down again
She was condemn'd to dee.
9.
When she cam down the Cannogate,
The Cannogate sae free,
Many a ladie look'd o'er her window,
Weeping for this ladie.
10.
«Make never meen? for me,” she says,
Make never meen for me;
Seek never grace frae a graceless face,
For that ye'll never see.
II.
“Bring me a bottle of wine,” she says,
« The best that e'er ye hae,
That I may drink to my weil-wishers,
And they may drink to me.
12.
“And here's to the jolly sailor lad
That sails upon the faem;
But let not my father nor mother get wit
But that I shall come again.
13.
“And here's to the jolly sailor lad
That sails upon the sea;
But let not my father nor mother get wit
O' the death that I maun dee.
14.
“Oh little did my mother think,
The day she cradled me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
15.
“Oh little did my father think,
The day he held up' me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
16. "Last night I wash'd the Queen's feet,
And gently laid her down;
And a' the thanks I've gotten the nicht
To be hangd in Edinbro town!
i Shoe.
2 Moan.
Held up, lifted up, recognized as his lawful child, - a world-wide and
ancient ceremony.
## p. 1333 (#123) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1333
17.
“Last nicht there was four Maries,
The nicht there'll be but three;
There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beton,
And Marie Carmichael, and me. ”
BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL
I.
HP
IGH upon Highlands,
and low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell
rade out on a day.
2.
Saddled and bridled
and gallant rade he;
Hame cam his guid horse,
but never cam he.
3. Out cam his auld mither
greeting fu' sair,
And out cam his bonnie bride
riving her hair.
4. Saddled and bridled
and booted rade he;
Toomi hame cam the saddle,
but never came he.
5. “My meadow lies green,
and my corn is unshorn,
My barn is to build,
and my babe is unborn. "
6. Saddled and bridled
and booted rade he;
Toom hame cam the saddle,
but never cam he.
1 Empty.
## p. 1334 (#124) ###########################################
1334
THE BALLAD
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAYI
1.
O
BESSIE BELL and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses!
They biggit? a bower on yon burn-brae,'
And theekit + it oer wi rashes.
2.
They theekit it oer wi' rashes green,
They theekit it oer wi' heather:
But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
And slew them baith thegither.
3. They thought to lie in Methven kirk-yard
Amang their noble kin;
But they maun lye in Stronach haugh,
To biek forenent the sin. 5
4. And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it oer wi'rashes.
THE THREE RAVENS 6
1.
THER
HERE were three ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe,?
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
With a downe,
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
2.
The one of them said to his mate,
« Where shall we our breakfast take ? »
3.
Downe in yonder greene field
There lies a knight slain under his shield.
· Founded on an actual event of the plague, near Perth, in 1645. See the
interesting account in Professor Child's Ballads, Part vil. , p. 75f.
2 Built.
3 A hill sloping down to a brook.
4 Thatched.
6 To bake in the rays of the sun.
6 The counterpart, or perhaps parody, of this ballad, called “The Twa
Corbies,' is better known than the exquisite original.
* The refrain, or burden, differs in another version of the ballad.
## p. 1335 (#125) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1335
4.
His hounds they lie down at his feete,
So well they can their master keepe. '
5.
His haukes they fie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie. ”
6. Downe there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might goe.
7. She lift up his bloudy head,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
8. She got him up upon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake. ?
9.
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere even-song time.
God send every gentleman
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman. 3
IO.
LORD RANDAL
1.
'O
WHERE hae ye been, Lord Randal, my son ?
O where hae ye been, my handsome young man ?
“I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed
soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
2.
3.
“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son ?
Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man ? ”
«I din’d wi' my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
“What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son ?
What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man ? »
“I gat eels boiled in broo;* mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
( What
came o' your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son ?
What became o' your bloodhounds, my handsome young
4.
man ? »
“O they swell'd and they died; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
1 Guard.
2 Shroud of earth, burial.
3 Sweetheart, darling, literally (dear-one) (liefman).
The word had origin-
ally no offensive meaning.
* Broth.
## p. 1336 (#126) ###########################################
1336
THE BALLAD
5.
«O I fear you are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son!
0 I fear you are poison'd, my handsome young man! »
“O yes! I'm poison'd; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down. ”
> 1
EDWARD2
1.
“WHY
Hy dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee 0 ? ”
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee 0. ”
2.
« Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward,
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee 0. ”
«O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie 0. ”
3.
« Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie 0. 93
“O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O! »
Frogs, toads, snakes, and the like were often served for fish, and of
course were supposed to act as a poison. One variant has a verse to elabor-
ate this:
“Where gat she those eels, Lord Randal, my son ?
Where gat she those eels, my handsome young man ? ”
<< 'Neath the bush o' brown bracken; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
2 One of the finest of our ballads. It was sent from Scotland to Percy by
David Dalrymple.
3 You suffer some other sorrow.
## p. 1337 (#127) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1337
4.
“And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that,
Edward, Edward,
And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that?
My deir son, now tell me 0. ”
"I'll set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither,
I'll set my feit in yonder boat,
And I'll fare over the sea 0. ”
5. “And what wul ye doe wi’ your towers and your ha',
Edward, Edward,
And what wul ye doe wi' your towers and your ha',
That were sae fair to see 0 ? »
“I'll let them stand till they doun fa',
Mither, mither,
I'll let them stand till they doun fa',
For here nevir mair maun I bee 0. ”
6. “And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Edward, Edward,
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
When ye gang over the sea 0 ?
“The warldis room; let them beg thrae life,
Mither, mither,
The warldis room; let them beg thrae life,
For them never mair wul I see 0. ”
7.
“And what wul ye leive to your ain mither ear,
Edward, Edward,
And what will ye leive to your ain mither dear ?
My dear son, now tell me 0. ”
« The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither,
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counsels ye gave to me 0. ”
THE TWA BROTHERS
I.
Ther they went to the school thegither
;
HERE were twa brethren in the north,
They went to the school thegither;
The one unto the other said,
«Will you try a warslel afore ? »
1 Wrestle.
## p. 1338 (#128) ###########################################
1338
THE BALLAD
2.
They warsled up, they warsled down,
Till Sir John fell to the ground,
And there was a knife in Sir Willie's pouch,
Gied him a deadlie wound.
3.
«Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon burn clear,
And wash the blood from off my wound,
And it will bleed nae mair. ”
4.
He took him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon burn clear,
And washed the blood from off his wound,
But aye it bled the mair.
5.
“Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon kirk-yard,
And dig a grave baith wide and deep,
And lay my body there. ”
6.
He's taen him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon kirk-yard,
And dug a grave baith deep and wide,
And laid his body there.
7.
But what will I say to my father dear,
Gin he chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? »
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy him a cask of wine. ”
8.
“And what will I say to my mother dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? ”
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a new silk gown. ”
9.
And what will I say to my sister dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? ”
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a wedding ring. ”
IO.
“But what will I say to her you loe' dear,
Gin she cry, Why tarries my John ?
« On tell her I lie in Kirk-land fair,
And home again will never come. ”
1 Love.
## p. 1339 (#129) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1339
BABYLON; OR THE BONNIE BANKS O'FORDIE
I.
TERE
HERE were three ladies lived in a bower,
Eh vow bonnie,
And they went out to pull a flower
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.
2.
They hadna pu’ed a flower but ane,
When up started to them a banisht man.
3.
He's ta'en the first sister by her hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
4.
“It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
"It's I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife! )
5.
6.
He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
7.
He's taken the second ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
8.
“It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
9.
“I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife. ”
10.
He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
II.
He's taken the youngest ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
12.
Says, “Will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
13. “I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife.
14.
« For I hae a brother in this wood,
And gin ye kill me, it's he'll kill thee. ”
15.
“What's thy brother's name? Come tell to me. ”
“My brother's name is Baby Lon. ”
## p. 1340 (#130) ###########################################
1340
THE BALLAD
16. “O sister, sister, what have I done!
O have I done this ill to thee!
17.
“O since I've done this evil deed,
Good sall never be seen o' me. ”
18.
He's taken out his wee pen-knife,
And he's twyned' himsel o' his own sweet life.
CHILDE MAURICE ?
I.
CH
HILDE MAURICE hunted i’ the silver wood,
He hunted it round about,
And noebodye that he found therein,
Nor none there was without.
2.
He says,
“Come hither, thou little foot-page,
That runneth lowlye by my knee,
For thou shalt goe to John Steward's wife
And pray her speake with me.
3.
I, and greete thou doe that ladye well,
Ever soe well fro me.
4. “And, as it falls, as many times
As knots beene knit on a kell,?
Or marchant men gone to leeve London
Either to buy ware or sell.
5. “And, as it falles, as many times
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoole-masters are in any schoole-house
Writing with pen and inke:
For if I might, as well as she may,
This night I would with her speake.
1 Parted, deprived.
? It is worth while to quote Gray's praise of this ballad:–«I have got the
old Scotch ballad on which Douglas) [the well-known tragedy by Home]
was founded.
It is divine.
. Aristotle's best rules are observed in a
manner which shows the author never had heard of Aristotle. » - Letter to
Mason, in (Works,' ed. Gosse, ii. 316.
3 That is, the page is to greet the lady as many times as there are knots
in nets for the hair (kell), or merchants going to dear (leeve, lief) London,
or thoughts of the heart, or schoolmasters in all schoolhouses. These multi-
plied and comparative greetings are common in folk-lore, particularly in Ger-
man popular lyric.
## p. 1341 (#131) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1341
6.
“And heere I send her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bid her come to the silver wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
7.
"And there I send her a ring of gold,
A ring of precious stone,
And bid her come to the silver wood,
Let' for no kind of man. ”
8. One while this little boy he yode,'
Another while he ran,
Until he came to John Steward's hall,
I-wis3 he never blan. 4
9. And of nurture the child had good,
He ran up hall and bower free,
And when he came to this ladye faire,
Sayes, «God you save and see ! 5
IO.
“I am come from Child Maurice,
A message unto thee;
And Child Maurice, he greetes you well,
And ever soe well from me.
II.
12.
“And as it falls, as oftentimes
As knots beene knit on a kell,
Or marchant men gone to leeve London
Either for to buy ware or sell.
« And as oftentimes he greetes you well
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoolemasters are in any schoole,
Wryting with pen and inke.
“And heere he sends a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And he bids you come to the silver wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
«And heere he sends you a ring of gold,
A ring of the precious stone;
He prayes you to come to the silver wood,
Let for no kind of man. ”
6
13.
14.
· Let (desist) is an infinitive depending on bid.
2 Went, walked.
3 Certainly.
* Stopped.
5 Protect.
6 These, of course, are tokens of the Childe's identity.
## p. 1342 (#132) ###########################################
1342
THE BALLAD
15.
“Now peace, now peace, thou little foot-page,
For Christes sake, I pray thee!
For if my lord heare one of these words,
Thou must be hanged hye! ”
16. John Steward stood under the castle wall,
And he wrote the words everye one,
17.
And he called upon his hors-keeper,
“Make ready you my steede!
I, and soe he did to his chamberlaine,
“Make ready thou my weede! !
18.
And he cast a lease? upon his backe,
And he rode to the silver wood,
And there he sought all about,
About the silver wood.
19.
And there he found him Child Maurice
Sitting upon a blocke,
With a silver combe in his hand,
Kembing his yellow lockes.
20.
But then stood up him Child Maurice,
And sayd these words trulye:
“I doe not know your ladye,” he said,
“If that I doe her see. ”
21.
He sayes, “How now, how now, Child Maurices
Alacke, how may this be ?
For thou hast sent her love-tokens,
More now then two or three;
22.
«For thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bade her come to the silver woode
To hunt with Child Maurice.
23.
“And thou hast sent her a ring of gold,
A ring of precyous stone,
And bade her come to the silver wood,
Let for no kind of man.
i Clothes.
* Leash.
## p. 1343 (#133) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1343
24.
“And by my faith, now, Child Maurice,
The tonel of us shall dye!
“Now be my troth,” sayd Child Maurice,
<And that shall not be 1. )
25.
But he pulled forth a bright browne ? sword,
And dryed it on the grasse,
And soe fast he smote at John Steward,
I-wisse he never did rest.
26. Then he 3 pulled forth his bright browne sword,
And dryed it on his sleeve,
And the first good stroke John Stewart stroke,
Child Maurice head he did cleeve.
27. And he pricked it on his sword's poynt,
Went singing there beside,
And he rode till he came to that ladye faire,
Whereas this ladye lyed. "
28. And sayes, «Dost thou know Child Maurice head,
If that thou dost it see?
And lap it soft, and kisse it oft,
For thou lovedst him better than me. )
29.
But when she looked on Child Maurice head,
She never spake words but three:-
“I never beare no childe but one,
And you have slaine him trulye. ”
30. Sayes,5 «Wicked be my merrymen all,
I gave meate, drinke, and clothe!
But could they not have holden me
When I was in all that wrath!
31.
«For I have slaine one of the curteousest knights
That ever bestrode a steed,
So 6 have I done one of the fairest ladyes
That ever ware woman's weede ! »
i That one -the one.
1328
THE BALLAD
11.
«What news, what news? ” says the Seven Forsters,
“What news have ye brought to me ? ”
“I have no news,” the palmer said,
« But what I saw with my eye.
I 2.
“As I came in by Braidisbanks,
And down among the whuns,
The bonniest youngster e'er I saw
Lay sleepin amang his hunds.
13.
« The shirt that was upon his back
Was o' the holland fine;
The doublet which was over that
Was o' the Lincoln twine. "
14. Up bespake the Seven Forsters,
Up bespake they ane and a':
“O that is Johnie o' Cockleys Well,
And near him we will draw. ”
15. O the first stroke that they gae him,
They struck him off by the knee;
Then up bespake his sister's son:
“O the next 'll gar' him die! ”
16.
“O some they count ye well wight men,
But I do count ye nane;
For you might well ha' waken'd me,
And ask'd gin I wad be ta'en.
17.
« The wildest wolf as in a' this wood
Wad not ha' done so by me;
She'd ha' wet her foot i' the wan water,
And sprinkled it o'er my brae,
And if that wad not ha' waken'd ine,
She wad ha' gone and let me be.
18. “O bows of yew, if ye be true,
In London, where ye were bought,
Fingers five, get up belive,?
Manhuid shall fail me nought. ”
19. He has kill'd the Seven Forsters,
He has kill'd them all but ane,
And that wan scarce to Pickeram Side,
To carry the bode-words hame.
Make, cause.
? Quickly.
## p. 1329 (#119) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1329
20.
“Is there never a [bird) in a' this wood
That will tell what I can say;
That will go to Cockleys Well,
Tell my mither to fetch me away? ”
There was a [bird] into that wood,
That carried the tidings away,
And many ael was the well-wight man
At the fetching o' Johnie away.
21.
SIR PATRICK SPENS
I.
Tthe :
He king sits in Dumferling toune,
Drinking the blude-reid wine:
“O whar will I get guid sailor,
To sail this ship of mine ? ”
2. Up and spak an eldern knight,
Sat at the kings right kne:
«Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor,
That sails upon the sea. ”
3. The king has written a braid letter,”
And sign'd it wi' his hand,
And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
Was walking on the sand.
The first line that Sir Patrick read,
A loud laugh laughed he;
The next line that Sir Patrick read,
The tear blinded his ee.
5.
« O wha is this has done this deed,
This ill deed done to me,
To send me out this time o' the year,
To sail upon the sea!
6. “Make haste, make haste, my mirry men all,
Our guide ship sails the morne :)
“O say na sae, my master dear,
For I fear a deadlie storme.
7.
“Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone,
Wi' the auld moone in hir arme,
i One.
2 «A braid letter, open or patent, in opposition to close rolls. ” — Percy.
3 Note that it is the sight of the new moon late in the evening which
makes a bad omen.
III-84
## p. 1330 (#120) ###########################################
1330
THE BALLAD
And I fear, I fear, my dear master,
That we will come to harme. ”
8.
9.
O our Scots nobles were right laith
To weet their cork-heeled shoone;
But lang owre a' the play wer play'd,
Their hats they swam aboone.
O lang, lang may their ladies sit,
W' their fans into their hand,
Or e'er they see Sir Patrick Spens
Cum sailing to the land.
O lang, lang may the ladies stand,
Wi’ their gold kems? in their hair,
Waiting for their ain dear lords,
For they'll se thame na mair.
Half owre, half owre to Aberdour,
It's fiftie fadom deep,
And their lies guid Sir Patrick Spens,
Wi' the Scots lords at his feet.
10.
II.
THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY?
1.
Y®
E HIGHLANDS, and ye Lawlands,
Oh where have you been?
They have slain the Earl of Murray,
And they layd him on the green.
"Now wae be to thee, Huntly!
And wherefore did you sae ?
I bade you bring him wi' you,
But forbade you him to slay. ”
2.
3. He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring;3
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he might have been a king!
4. He was a braw gallant,
And he play'd at the ba';
And the bonny Earl of Murray
Was the flower amang them a'.
1 Combs.
James Stewart, Earl of Murray, was killed by the Earl of Huntly's fol-
lowers, February, 1592. The second stanza is spoken, of course, by the King.
Piercing with the lance a suspended ring, as one rode at full speed, was
a favorite sport of the day.
2
3
## p. 1331 (#121) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1331
5.
He was a braw gallant,
And he play'd at the glove;?
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he was the Queen's love!
Oh lang will his lady
Look o'er the Castle Down,
E'er she see the Earl of Murray
Come sounding thro the town!
6.
MARY HAMILTON
1.
WORD
2.
ORD's gane to the kitchen,
And word's gane to the ha',
That Marie Hamilton has born a bairn
To the highest Stewart of a'.
She's tyed it in her apron
And she's thrown it in the sea;
Says, Sink ye, swim ye, bonny wee babe,
You'll ne'er get mair o' me. ”
Down then cam the auld Queen,
Goud ? tassels tying her hair:
“O Marie, where's the bonny wee babe
That I heard greet' sae sair ? ”
« There was never a babe intill my room,
As little designs to be;
It was but a touch o' my sair side,
Came o'er my fair bodie. ”
3.
4.
5.
"O Marie, put on your robes o' black,
Or else your robes o’ brown,
For ye maun gang wi' me the night,
To see fair Edinbro town. ”
6. "I winna put on my robes o' black,
Nor yet my robes o’ brown;
But I'll put on my robes o' white,
To shine through Edinbro town. ”
7.
When she gaed up the Cannogate,
She laugh'd loud laughters three;
But when she cam down the Cannogate
The tear blinded her ee.
1 Probably this reference is to the glove worn by knights as a lady's favor.
2 Gold.
3 Weep.
## p. 1332 (#122) ###########################################
1332
THE BALLAD
8.
When she gaed up the Parliament stair,
The heel cam aff her shee;?
And lang or she cam down again
She was condemn'd to dee.
9.
When she cam down the Cannogate,
The Cannogate sae free,
Many a ladie look'd o'er her window,
Weeping for this ladie.
10.
«Make never meen? for me,” she says,
Make never meen for me;
Seek never grace frae a graceless face,
For that ye'll never see.
II.
“Bring me a bottle of wine,” she says,
« The best that e'er ye hae,
That I may drink to my weil-wishers,
And they may drink to me.
12.
“And here's to the jolly sailor lad
That sails upon the faem;
But let not my father nor mother get wit
But that I shall come again.
13.
“And here's to the jolly sailor lad
That sails upon the sea;
But let not my father nor mother get wit
O' the death that I maun dee.
14.
“Oh little did my mother think,
The day she cradled me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
15.
“Oh little did my father think,
The day he held up' me,
What lands I was to travel through,
What death I was to dee.
16. "Last night I wash'd the Queen's feet,
And gently laid her down;
And a' the thanks I've gotten the nicht
To be hangd in Edinbro town!
i Shoe.
2 Moan.
Held up, lifted up, recognized as his lawful child, - a world-wide and
ancient ceremony.
## p. 1333 (#123) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1333
17.
“Last nicht there was four Maries,
The nicht there'll be but three;
There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beton,
And Marie Carmichael, and me. ”
BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL
I.
HP
IGH upon Highlands,
and low upon Tay,
Bonnie George Campbell
rade out on a day.
2.
Saddled and bridled
and gallant rade he;
Hame cam his guid horse,
but never cam he.
3. Out cam his auld mither
greeting fu' sair,
And out cam his bonnie bride
riving her hair.
4. Saddled and bridled
and booted rade he;
Toomi hame cam the saddle,
but never came he.
5. “My meadow lies green,
and my corn is unshorn,
My barn is to build,
and my babe is unborn. "
6. Saddled and bridled
and booted rade he;
Toom hame cam the saddle,
but never cam he.
1 Empty.
## p. 1334 (#124) ###########################################
1334
THE BALLAD
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAYI
1.
O
BESSIE BELL and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses!
They biggit? a bower on yon burn-brae,'
And theekit + it oer wi rashes.
2.
They theekit it oer wi' rashes green,
They theekit it oer wi' heather:
But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
And slew them baith thegither.
3. They thought to lie in Methven kirk-yard
Amang their noble kin;
But they maun lye in Stronach haugh,
To biek forenent the sin. 5
4. And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it oer wi'rashes.
THE THREE RAVENS 6
1.
THER
HERE were three ravens sat on a tree,
Downe a downe, hay down, hay downe,?
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
With a downe,
There were three ravens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
2.
The one of them said to his mate,
« Where shall we our breakfast take ? »
3.
Downe in yonder greene field
There lies a knight slain under his shield.
· Founded on an actual event of the plague, near Perth, in 1645. See the
interesting account in Professor Child's Ballads, Part vil. , p. 75f.
2 Built.
3 A hill sloping down to a brook.
4 Thatched.
6 To bake in the rays of the sun.
6 The counterpart, or perhaps parody, of this ballad, called “The Twa
Corbies,' is better known than the exquisite original.
* The refrain, or burden, differs in another version of the ballad.
## p. 1335 (#125) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1335
4.
His hounds they lie down at his feete,
So well they can their master keepe. '
5.
His haukes they fie so eagerly,
There's no fowle dare him come nie. ”
6. Downe there comes a fallow doe,
As great with young as she might goe.
7. She lift up his bloudy head,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
8. She got him up upon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake. ?
9.
She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere even-song time.
God send every gentleman
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman. 3
IO.
LORD RANDAL
1.
'O
WHERE hae ye been, Lord Randal, my son ?
O where hae ye been, my handsome young man ?
“I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed
soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
2.
3.
“Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son ?
Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man ? ”
«I din’d wi' my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
“What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son ?
What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man ? »
“I gat eels boiled in broo;* mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
( What
came o' your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son ?
What became o' your bloodhounds, my handsome young
4.
man ? »
“O they swell'd and they died; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
1 Guard.
2 Shroud of earth, burial.
3 Sweetheart, darling, literally (dear-one) (liefman).
The word had origin-
ally no offensive meaning.
* Broth.
## p. 1336 (#126) ###########################################
1336
THE BALLAD
5.
«O I fear you are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son!
0 I fear you are poison'd, my handsome young man! »
“O yes! I'm poison'd; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down. ”
> 1
EDWARD2
1.
“WHY
Hy dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee 0 ? ”
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee 0. ”
2.
« Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward,
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee 0. ”
«O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie 0. ”
3.
« Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie 0. 93
“O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
0 I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O! »
Frogs, toads, snakes, and the like were often served for fish, and of
course were supposed to act as a poison. One variant has a verse to elabor-
ate this:
“Where gat she those eels, Lord Randal, my son ?
Where gat she those eels, my handsome young man ? ”
<< 'Neath the bush o' brown bracken; mother, make my bed soon,
For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down. ”
2 One of the finest of our ballads. It was sent from Scotland to Percy by
David Dalrymple.
3 You suffer some other sorrow.
## p. 1337 (#127) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1337
4.
“And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that,
Edward, Edward,
And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that?
My deir son, now tell me 0. ”
"I'll set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither,
I'll set my feit in yonder boat,
And I'll fare over the sea 0. ”
5. “And what wul ye doe wi’ your towers and your ha',
Edward, Edward,
And what wul ye doe wi' your towers and your ha',
That were sae fair to see 0 ? »
“I'll let them stand till they doun fa',
Mither, mither,
I'll let them stand till they doun fa',
For here nevir mair maun I bee 0. ”
6. “And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Edward, Edward,
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
When ye gang over the sea 0 ?
“The warldis room; let them beg thrae life,
Mither, mither,
The warldis room; let them beg thrae life,
For them never mair wul I see 0. ”
7.
“And what wul ye leive to your ain mither ear,
Edward, Edward,
And what will ye leive to your ain mither dear ?
My dear son, now tell me 0. ”
« The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither,
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counsels ye gave to me 0. ”
THE TWA BROTHERS
I.
Ther they went to the school thegither
;
HERE were twa brethren in the north,
They went to the school thegither;
The one unto the other said,
«Will you try a warslel afore ? »
1 Wrestle.
## p. 1338 (#128) ###########################################
1338
THE BALLAD
2.
They warsled up, they warsled down,
Till Sir John fell to the ground,
And there was a knife in Sir Willie's pouch,
Gied him a deadlie wound.
3.
«Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon burn clear,
And wash the blood from off my wound,
And it will bleed nae mair. ”
4.
He took him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon burn clear,
And washed the blood from off his wound,
But aye it bled the mair.
5.
“Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon kirk-yard,
And dig a grave baith wide and deep,
And lay my body there. ”
6.
He's taen him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon kirk-yard,
And dug a grave baith deep and wide,
And laid his body there.
7.
But what will I say to my father dear,
Gin he chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? »
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy him a cask of wine. ”
8.
“And what will I say to my mother dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? ”
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a new silk gown. ”
9.
And what will I say to my sister dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John ? ”
«Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a wedding ring. ”
IO.
“But what will I say to her you loe' dear,
Gin she cry, Why tarries my John ?
« On tell her I lie in Kirk-land fair,
And home again will never come. ”
1 Love.
## p. 1339 (#129) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1339
BABYLON; OR THE BONNIE BANKS O'FORDIE
I.
TERE
HERE were three ladies lived in a bower,
Eh vow bonnie,
And they went out to pull a flower
On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.
2.
They hadna pu’ed a flower but ane,
When up started to them a banisht man.
3.
He's ta'en the first sister by her hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
4.
“It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
"It's I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife! )
5.
6.
He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
7.
He's taken the second ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
8.
“It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
9.
“I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife. ”
10.
He's killed this may, and he's laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
II.
He's taken the youngest ane by the hand,
And he's turned her round and made her stand.
12.
Says, “Will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife ? ”
13. “I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife.
14.
« For I hae a brother in this wood,
And gin ye kill me, it's he'll kill thee. ”
15.
“What's thy brother's name? Come tell to me. ”
“My brother's name is Baby Lon. ”
## p. 1340 (#130) ###########################################
1340
THE BALLAD
16. “O sister, sister, what have I done!
O have I done this ill to thee!
17.
“O since I've done this evil deed,
Good sall never be seen o' me. ”
18.
He's taken out his wee pen-knife,
And he's twyned' himsel o' his own sweet life.
CHILDE MAURICE ?
I.
CH
HILDE MAURICE hunted i’ the silver wood,
He hunted it round about,
And noebodye that he found therein,
Nor none there was without.
2.
He says,
“Come hither, thou little foot-page,
That runneth lowlye by my knee,
For thou shalt goe to John Steward's wife
And pray her speake with me.
3.
I, and greete thou doe that ladye well,
Ever soe well fro me.
4. “And, as it falls, as many times
As knots beene knit on a kell,?
Or marchant men gone to leeve London
Either to buy ware or sell.
5. “And, as it falles, as many times
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoole-masters are in any schoole-house
Writing with pen and inke:
For if I might, as well as she may,
This night I would with her speake.
1 Parted, deprived.
? It is worth while to quote Gray's praise of this ballad:–«I have got the
old Scotch ballad on which Douglas) [the well-known tragedy by Home]
was founded.
It is divine.
. Aristotle's best rules are observed in a
manner which shows the author never had heard of Aristotle. » - Letter to
Mason, in (Works,' ed. Gosse, ii. 316.
3 That is, the page is to greet the lady as many times as there are knots
in nets for the hair (kell), or merchants going to dear (leeve, lief) London,
or thoughts of the heart, or schoolmasters in all schoolhouses. These multi-
plied and comparative greetings are common in folk-lore, particularly in Ger-
man popular lyric.
## p. 1341 (#131) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1341
6.
“And heere I send her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bid her come to the silver wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
7.
"And there I send her a ring of gold,
A ring of precious stone,
And bid her come to the silver wood,
Let' for no kind of man. ”
8. One while this little boy he yode,'
Another while he ran,
Until he came to John Steward's hall,
I-wis3 he never blan. 4
9. And of nurture the child had good,
He ran up hall and bower free,
And when he came to this ladye faire,
Sayes, «God you save and see ! 5
IO.
“I am come from Child Maurice,
A message unto thee;
And Child Maurice, he greetes you well,
And ever soe well from me.
II.
12.
“And as it falls, as oftentimes
As knots beene knit on a kell,
Or marchant men gone to leeve London
Either for to buy ware or sell.
« And as oftentimes he greetes you well
As any hart can thinke,
Or schoolemasters are in any schoole,
Wryting with pen and inke.
“And heere he sends a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And he bids you come to the silver wood,
To hunt with Child Maurice.
«And heere he sends you a ring of gold,
A ring of the precious stone;
He prayes you to come to the silver wood,
Let for no kind of man. ”
6
13.
14.
· Let (desist) is an infinitive depending on bid.
2 Went, walked.
3 Certainly.
* Stopped.
5 Protect.
6 These, of course, are tokens of the Childe's identity.
## p. 1342 (#132) ###########################################
1342
THE BALLAD
15.
“Now peace, now peace, thou little foot-page,
For Christes sake, I pray thee!
For if my lord heare one of these words,
Thou must be hanged hye! ”
16. John Steward stood under the castle wall,
And he wrote the words everye one,
17.
And he called upon his hors-keeper,
“Make ready you my steede!
I, and soe he did to his chamberlaine,
“Make ready thou my weede! !
18.
And he cast a lease? upon his backe,
And he rode to the silver wood,
And there he sought all about,
About the silver wood.
19.
And there he found him Child Maurice
Sitting upon a blocke,
With a silver combe in his hand,
Kembing his yellow lockes.
20.
But then stood up him Child Maurice,
And sayd these words trulye:
“I doe not know your ladye,” he said,
“If that I doe her see. ”
21.
He sayes, “How now, how now, Child Maurices
Alacke, how may this be ?
For thou hast sent her love-tokens,
More now then two or three;
22.
«For thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,
As greene as any grasse,
And bade her come to the silver woode
To hunt with Child Maurice.
23.
“And thou hast sent her a ring of gold,
A ring of precyous stone,
And bade her come to the silver wood,
Let for no kind of man.
i Clothes.
* Leash.
## p. 1343 (#133) ###########################################
THE BALLAD
1343
24.
“And by my faith, now, Child Maurice,
The tonel of us shall dye!
“Now be my troth,” sayd Child Maurice,
<And that shall not be 1. )
25.
But he pulled forth a bright browne ? sword,
And dryed it on the grasse,
And soe fast he smote at John Steward,
I-wisse he never did rest.
26. Then he 3 pulled forth his bright browne sword,
And dryed it on his sleeve,
And the first good stroke John Stewart stroke,
Child Maurice head he did cleeve.
27. And he pricked it on his sword's poynt,
Went singing there beside,
And he rode till he came to that ladye faire,
Whereas this ladye lyed. "
28. And sayes, «Dost thou know Child Maurice head,
If that thou dost it see?
And lap it soft, and kisse it oft,
For thou lovedst him better than me. )
29.
But when she looked on Child Maurice head,
She never spake words but three:-
“I never beare no childe but one,
And you have slaine him trulye. ”
30. Sayes,5 «Wicked be my merrymen all,
I gave meate, drinke, and clothe!
But could they not have holden me
When I was in all that wrath!
31.
«For I have slaine one of the curteousest knights
That ever bestrode a steed,
So 6 have I done one of the fairest ladyes
That ever ware woman's weede ! »
i That one -the one.
