The Textis given from Joshua Sylvester’sA Garland of Christmas Carols, where it is printed from an old Birmingham broadside.
The Storyis one which naturally attracted the attention of the popular ballad-maker, and parallel ballads exist in fairly wide European distribution.
Like theCarnal and the Crane, the form in which this ballad is now known is no witness of its antiquity. A ‘ballet of the Ryche man and poor Lazarus’ was licensed to be printed in 1558; ‘a ballett, Dyves and Lazarus,’ in 1570-1.
In Fletcher’sMonsieur Thomas(1639), a fiddler says he can sing the merry ballad ofDiverus and Lazarus. A correspondent inNotes and Queries(ser.IV.iii. 76) says he had heard only Diverus, never Dives, and contributes from memory a version as sung by carol-singers at Christmas in Worcestershire, in which the parallelism of the stanzas is pushed so far that, in the lines corresponding to 13.3and 13.4in the present version, we have the delightfully popular idea—
‘There is a place prepared in hell,For to sit upon a serpent’s knee.’
‘There is a place prepared in hell,
For to sit upon a serpent’s knee.’
Husk (Songs of the Nativity) also gives this version, from an eighteenth-century Worcestershire broadside. I have no doubt but that this feature is traditional from the unknown sixteenth-century ballad.
1.Asit fell out upon a day,Rich Dives he made a feast,And he invited all his friends,And gentry of the best.2.Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ door:‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Bestow upon the poor.’3.‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my door;No meat nor drink will I give thee,Nor bestow upon the poor.’4.Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ wall:‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Or with hunger starve I shall.’5.‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my wall;No meat nor drink will I give thee,But with hunger starve you shall.’6.Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ gate:‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,For Jesus Christ his sake.’7.‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my gate;No meat nor drink will I give thee,For Jesus Christ his sake.’8.Then Dives sent out his merry men,To whip poor Lazarus away;They had no power to strike a stroke,But flung their whips away.9.Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs.To bite him as he lay;They had no power to bite at all,But licked his sores away.10.As it fell out upon a day,Poor Lazarus sickened and died;There came two angels out of heaven.His soul therein to guide.11.‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,And go along with me;For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,To sit on an angel’s knee.’12.As it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives sickened and died;There came two serpents out of hell,His soul therein to guide.13.‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,And go with us to seeA dismal place prepared in hell,From which thou canst not flee.’14.Then Dives looked up with his eyes.And saw poor Lazarus blest:‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,To quench my flaming thirst.15.‘Oh! had I as many years to abide,As there are blades of grass,Then there would be an end, but nowHell’s pains will ne’er be past.16.‘Oh! was I now but alive again,The space of an half hour:Oh! that I’d made my peace secure,Then the devil should have no power.’
1.
Asit fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives he made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.
2.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ door:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Bestow upon the poor.’
3.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my door;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.’
4.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ wall:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
Or with hunger starve I shall.’
5.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my wall;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
But with hunger starve you shall.’
6.
Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
And down at Dives’ gate:
‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
7.
‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,
That lies begging at my gate;
No meat nor drink will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ his sake.’
8.
Then Dives sent out his merry men,
To whip poor Lazarus away;
They had no power to strike a stroke,
But flung their whips away.
9.
Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs.
To bite him as he lay;
They had no power to bite at all,
But licked his sores away.
10.
As it fell out upon a day,
Poor Lazarus sickened and died;
There came two angels out of heaven.
His soul therein to guide.
11.
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,
And go along with me;
For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,
To sit on an angel’s knee.’
12.
As it fell out upon a day,
Rich Dives sickened and died;
There came two serpents out of hell,
His soul therein to guide.
13.
‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,
And go with us to see
A dismal place prepared in hell,
From which thou canst not flee.’
14.
Then Dives looked up with his eyes.
And saw poor Lazarus blest:
‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst.
15.
‘Oh! had I as many years to abide,
As there are blades of grass,
Then there would be an end, but now
Hell’s pains will ne’er be past.
16.
‘Oh! was I now but alive again,
The space of an half hour:
Oh! that I’d made my peace secure,
Then the devil should have no power.’
The Textis the only one known, that printed by Buchan,Ballads of the North of Scotland, and copied into Motherwell’sMS.
The Story, relating as it does a miracle of the Virgin, is, perhaps, the only one we possess of a class which, in other lands, is so extensive. A similar Scandinavian ballad has a tragical termination, except in one version.
The casting of lots to discover the Jonah of a ship is a feature common to many literatures.
1.Itfell upon a WodensdayBrown Robyn’s men went to sea,But they saw neither moon nor sun,Nor starlight wi’ their ee.2.2.1‘kevels,’ lots.‘We’ll cast kevels us amang,See wha the unhappy man may be;’The kevel fell on Brown Robyn,The master-man was he.3.‘It is nae wonder,’ said Brown Robyn,‘Altho I dinna thrive,For wi’ my mither I had twa bairns,And wi’ my sister five.4.‘But tie me to a plank o’ wudeAnd throw me in the sea;And if I sink; ye may bid me sink,But if I swim, just lat me bee.’5.They’ve tyed him to a plank o’ wude,And thrown him in the sea;He didna sink, tho’ they bade him sink;He swim’d, and they bade lat him bee.6.He hadna been into the seaAn hour but barely three,Till by it came Our Blessed Lady,Her dear young son her wi’.7.‘Will ye gang to your men again,Or will ye gang wi’ me?Will ye gang to the high heavens,Wi’ my dear son and me?’8.‘I winna gang to my men again,For they would be feared at mee;But I woud gang to the high heavens,Wi’ thy dear son and thee.’9.‘It’s for nae honour ye did to me, Brown Robyn,It’s for nae guid ye did to mee;But a’ is for your fair confessionYou’ve made upon the sea.’
1.
Itfell upon a Wodensday
Brown Robyn’s men went to sea,
But they saw neither moon nor sun,
Nor starlight wi’ their ee.
2.
2.1‘kevels,’ lots.
‘We’ll cast kevels us amang,
See wha the unhappy man may be;’
The kevel fell on Brown Robyn,
The master-man was he.
3.
‘It is nae wonder,’ said Brown Robyn,
‘Altho I dinna thrive,
For wi’ my mither I had twa bairns,
And wi’ my sister five.
4.
‘But tie me to a plank o’ wude
And throw me in the sea;
And if I sink; ye may bid me sink,
But if I swim, just lat me bee.’
5.
They’ve tyed him to a plank o’ wude,
And thrown him in the sea;
He didna sink, tho’ they bade him sink;
He swim’d, and they bade lat him bee.
6.
He hadna been into the sea
An hour but barely three,
Till by it came Our Blessed Lady,
Her dear young son her wi’.
7.
‘Will ye gang to your men again,
Or will ye gang wi’ me?
Will ye gang to the high heavens,
Wi’ my dear son and me?’
8.
‘I winna gang to my men again,
For they would be feared at mee;
But I woud gang to the high heavens,
Wi’ thy dear son and thee.’
9.
‘It’s for nae honour ye did to me, Brown Robyn,
It’s for nae guid ye did to mee;
But a’ is for your fair confession
You’ve made upon the sea.’
The Textis given from a thirteenth-centuryMS.in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge (B. 14, 39): it is thus the earliest text of any ballad that we possess. In theMS.it is written in long lines, four (or six, as in 4, 12, and 14) to the stanza.
As the language in which it is written is not easily intelligible, I have added a paraphrase on the opposite pages.
The Storyis of great interest, as it adds to the various legends of Judas a ‘swikele’ sister. The treachery of Judas has long been popularly explained (from the Gospel of St. John, xii. 3-6) as follows:— Judas, being accustomed as bearer of the bag to take a tithe of all moneys passing through his hands, considered that he had lost thirty pence on the ointment that might have been sold for three hundred pence, and so took his revenge.
A Wendish ballad makes him lose the thirty pieces of silver, intrusted to him for buying bread, in gambling with certain Jews, who, when he had lost everything, suggested that he should sell his Master. Afterwards, in remorse, he rushes away to hang himself. The fir-tree is soft wood and will not bear him. The aspen is hard wood, and will bear him; so he hangs himself on the aspen. Since when, the aspen always trembles in fear of the Judgement day.
JUDAS1.Hitwes upon a Scere-thorsdaythat ure loverd aros;Ful milde were the wordeshe spec to Iudas.PARAPHRASEItwas upon a Scere-ThursdayThat our Lord arose;Full mild were the wordsHe spake to Judas.1.1‘Scere-thorsday,’ the Thursday before Easter.2.‘Iudas, thou most to Iurselem,oure mete for to bugge;Thritti platen of selverthou bere up othi rugge.‘Judas, thou must to Jerusalem,Our meat for to buy;Thirty plates of silverBear thou upon thy back.2.3‘plates,’ pieces.3.‘Thou comest fer ithe brode stret,fer ithe brode strete,Summe of thine tunesmenther thou meist i-mete.’‘Come thou far in the broad street,Far in the broad street,Some of thy townsmenWhere thou might’st meet.’4.Imette wid is soster,the swikele wimon:‘Iudas, thou were wrtheme stende the wid ston,For the false prophetethat tou bilevest upon.’Being met with his sister,The treacherous woman:‘Judas, thou wert worthyOne should have stoned thee with stone.For the false prophetThat thou believest upon.’5.‘Be stille, leve soster,thin herte the to-breke!Wiste min loverd Crist,ful wel he wolde be wreke.’‘Be still, dear sister,May thine heart burst thee in twain!Did my Lord Christ know,Full well would he be avenged.’6.‘Iudas, go thou on the roc,heie up on the ston;Lei thin heved i my barm,slep thou the anon.’‘Judas, go thou on the rock,High up on the stone;Lay thine head in my bosom,Sleep thou anon.’6.3‘barm,’ lap, bosom: cp. the romance ofKing Horn(E.E.T.S., 1866), ll. 705-6,‘He fond Horn in armeOn Rymenhilde barme.’7.Sone so Iudasof slepe was awake,Thritti platen of selverfrom hym weren itake.So soon as JudasFrom sleep was awake,Thirty plates of silverFrom him were taken.8.He drou hym selve bi the copthat al it lavede ablode:The Iewes out of Iurselemawenden he were wode.He drew himself by the headSo that it all ran with blood,The Jews out of JerusalemThought he was mad.8.1‘drou,’ past tense ofdraw.8.1i.e.he tore his hair.9.Foret hym com the riche Ieuthat heiste Pilatus:‘Wolte sulle thi loverdthat hette Iesus?’Forth to him came the rich Jew,That hight Pilatus;‘Wilt thou sell thy Lord,That hight Jesus?’10.‘I nul sulle my loverdfor nones cunnes eiste,Bote hit be for the thritti platenthat he me bi taiste.’‘I will not sell my LordFor no kind of goods,Except it be for the thirty platesThat he entrusted to me.’11.‘Wolte sulle thi lord Cristfor enes cunnes golde?’‘Nay, bote hit be for the platenthat he habben wolde.’‘Wilt thou sell thy Lord ChristFor any kind of gold?’‘Nay, except it be for the platesThat he wished to have.’12.In him com ur lord gonas is postles seten at mete:‘Wou sitte ye, postles,ant wi nule ye ete?Ic am iboust ant isoldtoday for oure mete.’In came our Lord walkingAs his apostles sat at meat:‘How sit ye, apostles,And why will ye not eat?I am bought and soldTo-day for our meat.’12.1‘gon’ is infinitive; ‘cam gon’ = he came on foot, or perhaps at a foot-pace. This curious construction is only used with verbs of motion. Cp. the Homericβῆ δ᾽ ἴμεναι.13.Up stod him Iudas:‘Lord, am I that [frek]?I nas never othe studether me the evel spec.’Up stood Judas:‘Lord, am I that man?I was never in the placeWhere I spake evil of thee.’13.2‘frek,’ man: Skeat’s suggestion.13.3‘nas’ = ne was.14.Up him stod Peter,ant spec wid al is miste:‘Thau Pilatus him comewid ten hundred cnistes,Yet Ic wolde, loverd,for thi love fiste.’Up stood Peter,And spoke with all his might:‘Though Pilate should comeWith ten hundred knights,Yet I would, Lord,For thy love fight.’15.‘Still thou be, Peter;well I the icnowe;Thou wolt fur sake me thrienar the coc him crowe.’‘Still be thou, Peter;Well I thee know;Thou wilt forsake me thriceEre the cock crow.’
1.
Hitwes upon a Scere-thorsday
that ure loverd aros;
Ful milde were the wordes
he spec to Iudas.
Itwas upon a Scere-Thursday
That our Lord arose;
Full mild were the words
He spake to Judas.
2.
‘Iudas, thou most to Iurselem,
oure mete for to bugge;
Thritti platen of selver
thou bere up othi rugge.
‘Judas, thou must to Jerusalem,
Our meat for to buy;
Thirty plates of silver
Bear thou upon thy back.
3.
‘Thou comest fer ithe brode stret,
fer ithe brode strete,
Summe of thine tunesmen
ther thou meist i-mete.’
‘Come thou far in the broad street,
Far in the broad street,
Some of thy townsmen
Where thou might’st meet.’
4.
Imette wid is soster,
the swikele wimon:
‘Iudas, thou were wrthe
me stende the wid ston,
For the false prophete
that tou bilevest upon.’
Being met with his sister,
The treacherous woman:
‘Judas, thou wert worthy
One should have stoned thee with stone.
For the false prophet
That thou believest upon.’
5.
‘Be stille, leve soster,
thin herte the to-breke!
Wiste min loverd Crist,
ful wel he wolde be wreke.’
‘Be still, dear sister,
May thine heart burst thee in twain!
Did my Lord Christ know,
Full well would he be avenged.’
6.
‘Iudas, go thou on the roc,
heie up on the ston;
Lei thin heved i my barm,
slep thou the anon.’
‘Judas, go thou on the rock,
High up on the stone;
Lay thine head in my bosom,
Sleep thou anon.’
‘He fond Horn in armeOn Rymenhilde barme.’
‘He fond Horn in arme
On Rymenhilde barme.’
7.
Sone so Iudas
of slepe was awake,
Thritti platen of selver
from hym weren itake.
So soon as Judas
From sleep was awake,
Thirty plates of silver
From him were taken.
8.
He drou hym selve bi the cop
that al it lavede ablode:
The Iewes out of Iurselem
awenden he were wode.
He drew himself by the head
So that it all ran with blood,
The Jews out of Jerusalem
Thought he was mad.
9.
Foret hym com the riche Ieu
that heiste Pilatus:
‘Wolte sulle thi loverd
that hette Iesus?’
Forth to him came the rich Jew,
That hight Pilatus;
‘Wilt thou sell thy Lord,
That hight Jesus?’
10.
‘I nul sulle my loverd
for nones cunnes eiste,
Bote hit be for the thritti platen
that he me bi taiste.’
‘I will not sell my Lord
For no kind of goods,
Except it be for the thirty plates
That he entrusted to me.’
11.
‘Wolte sulle thi lord Crist
for enes cunnes golde?’
‘Nay, bote hit be for the platen
that he habben wolde.’
‘Wilt thou sell thy Lord Christ
For any kind of gold?’
‘Nay, except it be for the plates
That he wished to have.’
12.
In him com ur lord gon
as is postles seten at mete:
‘Wou sitte ye, postles,
ant wi nule ye ete?
Ic am iboust ant isold
today for oure mete.’
In came our Lord walking
As his apostles sat at meat:
‘How sit ye, apostles,
And why will ye not eat?
I am bought and sold
To-day for our meat.’
13.
Up stod him Iudas:
‘Lord, am I that [frek]?
I nas never othe stude
ther me the evel spec.’
Up stood Judas:
‘Lord, am I that man?
I was never in the place
Where I spake evil of thee.’
13.2‘frek,’ man: Skeat’s suggestion.
13.3‘nas’ = ne was.
14.
Up him stod Peter,
ant spec wid al is miste:
‘Thau Pilatus him come
wid ten hundred cnistes,
Yet Ic wolde, loverd,
for thi love fiste.’
Up stood Peter,
And spoke with all his might:
‘Though Pilate should come
With ten hundred knights,
Yet I would, Lord,
For thy love fight.’
15.
‘Still thou be, Peter;
well I the icnowe;
Thou wolt fur sake me thrien
ar the coc him crowe.’
‘Still be thou, Peter;
Well I thee know;
Thou wilt forsake me thrice
Ere the cock crow.’
The Textis from the Percy FolioMS.The only other known text is a fragment from Sir Walter Scott’s recollection, printed in C. K. Sharpe’sBallad Book.
The Storyis well known in the folklore of Europe, and is especially common in the Scandinavian languages. As a rule, however, all these ballads blend the story of the woman of Samaria with the traditions concerning Mary Magdalen that were extant in mediæval times.
From the present ballad it could hardly be gathered (except, perhaps, from stanza 11) that the old palmer represents Christ. This point is at once obvious in the Scandinavian and other ballads.
The extraordinary burden in the English ballad is one of the most elaborate in existence, and is quite as inexplicable as any.
The expression ‘to lead an ape in hell’ (14.2) occurs constantly in Elizabethan and later literature, always in connection with women who die, or expect to die, unmarried. Dyce says the expression ‘never has been (andnever will be) satisfactorily explained’; but it was suggested by Steevens that women who had no mate on earth should adopt in hell an ape as a substitute.
1.Themaid shee went to the well to washe,Lillumwham, LillumwhamThe mayd shee went to the well to washe,Whatt then, what then?The maid shee went to the well to washe,Dew ffell of her lilly white fleshe.Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye!Leg a derry Leg a merry mett mer whoope whirDrivance, Larumben, Grandam boy, heye!2.2.1,2‘White’: so in theMS.; perhaps should be ‘while’ in each case. ‘washed’ iswasheein theMS.White shee washed & white shee ronge,White shee hang’d o’ the hazle wand.3.There came an old palmer by the way,Sais, ‘God speed thee well, thou faire maid.4.‘Hast either cupp or can,To give an old palmer drinke therin?’5.Sayes, ‘I have neither cupp nor cann,To give an old palmer drinke therin.’6.‘But an thy lemman came from Roome,Cuppes & cannes thou wold ffind soone.’7.Shee sware by God & good St. John,Lemman had shee never none.8.Saies, ‘Peace, ffaire mayd, you are fforsworne;Nine children you have borne.9.9.1‘Three,’ Percy’s emendation ofTheyin theMS.9.2‘leade,’ vat.‘Three were buryed under thy bed’s head;Other three under thy brewing leade;10.10.1‘yon’:MS.won.10.2‘&’ forand=‘Other three on yon play greene;Count, maide, & there be nine.’11.‘But I hope you are the good old manThat all the world beleeves upon.12.‘Old palmer, I pray thee,Pennaunce that thou wilt give to me.’13.‘Penance I can give thee none,But seven yeere to be a stepping-stone.14.‘Other seaven a clapper in a bell;Other seven to lead an ape in hell.15.‘When thou hast thy penance done,Then thou’st come a mayden home.’
1.
Themaid shee went to the well to washe,
Lillumwham, Lillumwham
The mayd shee went to the well to washe,
Whatt then, what then?
The maid shee went to the well to washe,
Dew ffell of her lilly white fleshe.
Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye!
Leg a derry Leg a merry mett mer whoope whir
Drivance, Larumben, Grandam boy, heye!
2.
2.1,2‘White’: so in theMS.; perhaps should be ‘while’ in each case. ‘washed’ iswasheein theMS.
White shee washed & white shee ronge,
White shee hang’d o’ the hazle wand.
3.
There came an old palmer by the way,
Sais, ‘God speed thee well, thou faire maid.
4.
‘Hast either cupp or can,
To give an old palmer drinke therin?’
5.
Sayes, ‘I have neither cupp nor cann,
To give an old palmer drinke therin.’
6.
‘But an thy lemman came from Roome,
Cuppes & cannes thou wold ffind soone.’
7.
Shee sware by God & good St. John,
Lemman had shee never none.
8.
Saies, ‘Peace, ffaire mayd, you are fforsworne;
Nine children you have borne.
9.
9.1‘Three,’ Percy’s emendation ofTheyin theMS.
9.2‘leade,’ vat.
‘Three were buryed under thy bed’s head;
Other three under thy brewing leade;
10.
10.1‘yon’:MS.won.
10.2‘&’ forand=
‘Other three on yon play greene;
Count, maide, & there be nine.’
11.
‘But I hope you are the good old man
That all the world beleeves upon.
12.
‘Old palmer, I pray thee,
Pennaunce that thou wilt give to me.’
13.
‘Penance I can give thee none,
But seven yeere to be a stepping-stone.
14.
‘Other seaven a clapper in a bell;
Other seven to lead an ape in hell.
15.
‘When thou hast thy penance done,
Then thou’st come a mayden home.’
The Textis taken from Buchan’sBallads of the North of Scotland, where it is entitledThe Gowans sae gay. This ballad is much better known in another form,May Colvin(Collin,Collean).
The Story .—Professor Child says, ‘Of all ballads this has perhaps obtained the widest circulation,’ and devotes thirty-two pages to its introduction. Known in the south as well as in the north of Europe, the Germans and Scandinavians preserve it in fuller and more ancient forms than the Latin nations.
In the still popular Dutch balladHalewijn, Heer Halewijn sings so sweetly that the king’s daughter asks leave to go to him. Her father, mother, and sister remind her that those who have gone to him have never returned; her brother says he does not care where she goes, if she retains her honour. She makes an elaborate toilet, takes the best horse in the king’s stables, and joins Halewijn in the wood. They ride till they come to a gallows with many women hanged upon it. Halewijn offers her the choice of the means of her death, because she is fairest of all. She says she will choose the sword, but that Halewijn had better take off his coat, as it would be a pity to splash it with her blood. As he takes it off, she cuts off his head, which, however, continues to talk, suggesting she should blow his horn to warn his friends. She does not fall into this rather obvious trap, nor will she agree to his suggestion that she should rub his neck with a certain ointment. As she rides home, she meetsHalewijn’s mother, and tells her he is dead. She is received back with great honour and affection in her father’s castle.
This is the best form of the story, but many others only a little less full are found in Flanders, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Germany (nearly thirty variants which fall into three main divisions found respectively in North-West, South, and North-East Germany), Poland (where it is extraordinarily common), Bohemia, Servia, France, North Italy, Spain, and Portugal; and a Magyar ballad bears a certain resemblance. On the whole, the English ballad here printed (but notMay Colvin) and the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ballads, would seem to be the best preserved, on account of their retention of the primary notion, that the maid first charms the knight to sleep and then binds him. InMay Colvinand many of the other European versions, the knight bids her strip off her gown; she asks him to turn away his face as she does so, and when he is not looking, she pushes him into the river or sea.
The remarkable likeness existing between the names of the knight in the many languages,e.g.Halewijn (Dutch), Ulver, Olmar, Hollemen (Danish), Olbert (German), and Elf-knight in English, has caused some speculation as to a common origin. Professor Bugge has gone so far as to conjecture that the whole story is an offshoot of the tale of Judith and Holofernes, the latter name being the originals of the variants given above. While this hypothesis is perhaps too startling to be accepted without further evidence, it must be allowed that there are resemblances in the two stories; and as for the metamorphosis of Holofernes into Halewijn or Olbert, it is at once apparent that such changes are quite within the possibilities of phonetic tradition; and any one who is unwilling tocredit this should recollect the Scottish ‘keepach’ and ‘dreeach’ (used together or separately), which are derived, almost beyond belief, from ‘hypochondriac.’
May Colvinis one of the few ancient ballads still kept in print in broadside form.
1.Fairlady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,Aye as the gowans grow gayThere she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.The first morning in May2.‘If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,And yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.’3.This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.4.‘It’s a very strange matter, fair maiden,’ said he,‘I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.5.‘But will ye go to yon greenwood side?If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.’6.He leapt on a horse, and she on another,And they rode on to the greenwood together.7.‘Light down, light down, Lady Isabel,’ said he,‘We are come to the place where you are to die.’8.‘Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,Till ance my dear father and mother I see.’9.‘Seven king’s-daughters here hae I slain,And ye shall be the eight o’ them.’10.‘O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,That we may hae some rest before that I die.’11.She stroak’d him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,Wi’ a sma’ charm she lull’d him fast asleep.12.12.1‘ban,’ bound.12.2‘dag-durk,’ dagger.Wi’ his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,Wi’ his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.13.‘If seven king’s-daughters here ye hae slain,Lye ye here, a husband to them a’.’
1.
Fairlady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,
Aye as the gowans grow gay
There she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.
The first morning in May
2.
‘If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,
And yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.’
3.
This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,
Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.
4.
‘It’s a very strange matter, fair maiden,’ said he,
‘I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.
5.
‘But will ye go to yon greenwood side?
If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.’
6.
He leapt on a horse, and she on another,
And they rode on to the greenwood together.
7.
‘Light down, light down, Lady Isabel,’ said he,
‘We are come to the place where you are to die.’
8.
‘Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,
Till ance my dear father and mother I see.’
9.
‘Seven king’s-daughters here hae I slain,
And ye shall be the eight o’ them.’
10.
‘O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,
That we may hae some rest before that I die.’
11.
She stroak’d him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,
Wi’ a sma’ charm she lull’d him fast asleep.
12.
12.1‘ban,’ bound.
12.2‘dag-durk,’ dagger.
Wi’ his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,
Wi’ his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.
13.
‘If seven king’s-daughters here ye hae slain,
Lye ye here, a husband to them a’.’
The Textis from a broadside of the seventeenth century from the press of Coles, Vere, Wright, and Clarke, now preserved in the Rawlinson collection in the Bodleian Library.
The Storyof this ballad is one of the common class of riddle-ballads. Some of these riddles are found also inCaptain Wedderburn.
It is not clear why in 18.1‘poyson is greener than the grass.’ InCaptain Wedderburn(17.1) it is ‘death’ that is greener than the grass, which is equally inexplicable. A variant of the latter gives ‘virgus’ [= verjuice], a kind of vinegar, which obviously means ‘green juice.’ It is possible that this might come to be regarded as a synonym for ‘poyson’; and the next step is to substitute ‘death’ for ‘poyson.’
1.Therewas a lady of the North Country,Lay the bent to the bonny broomAnd she had lovely daughters three.Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re2.There was a knight of noble worthWhich also lived in the North.3.The knight, of courage stout and brave,A wife he did desire to have.4.He knocked at the ladie’s gateOne evening when it was late.5.5.1The broadsides all give ‘youngest’ for ‘eldest.’The eldest sister let him in,And pin’d the door with a silver pin.6.The second sister she made his bed,And laid soft pillows under his head.7.The youngest daughter that same night,She went to bed with this young knight.8.And in the morning, when it was day,These words unto him she did say:9.‘Now you have had your will,’ quoth she,‘I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?’10.The young brave knight to her replyed,‘Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny’d:11.‘If thou canst answer me questions three,This very day will I marry thee.’12.‘Kind sir, in love, O then,’ quoth she,‘Tell me what your three questions be.’13.‘O what is longer than the way,Or what is deeper than the sea?14.‘Or what is louder than the horn,Or what is sharper than a thorn?15.‘Or what is greener than the grass,Or what is worse than a woman was?’16.‘O love is longer than the way,And hell is deeper than the sea.17.‘And thunder is louder than the horn,And hunger is sharper than a thorn.18.‘And poyson is greener than the grass,And the Devil is worse than woman was.’19.When she these questions answered had,The knight became exceeding glad.20.And having truly try’d her wit,He much commended her for it.21.And after, as it is verifi’d,He made of her his lovely bride.22.So now, fair maidens all, adieu,This song I dedicate to you.23.I wish that you may constant proveVnto the man that you do love.
1.
Therewas a lady of the North Country,
Lay the bent to the bonny broom
And she had lovely daughters three.
Fa la la la, fa la la la ra re
2.
There was a knight of noble worth
Which also lived in the North.
3.
The knight, of courage stout and brave,
A wife he did desire to have.
4.
He knocked at the ladie’s gate
One evening when it was late.
5.
5.1The broadsides all give ‘youngest’ for ‘eldest.’
The eldest sister let him in,
And pin’d the door with a silver pin.
6.
The second sister she made his bed,
And laid soft pillows under his head.
7.
The youngest daughter that same night,
She went to bed with this young knight.
8.
And in the morning, when it was day,
These words unto him she did say:
9.
‘Now you have had your will,’ quoth she,
‘I pray, sir knight, will you marry me?’
10.
The young brave knight to her replyed,
‘Thy suit, fair maid, shall not be deny’d:
11.
‘If thou canst answer me questions three,
This very day will I marry thee.’
12.
‘Kind sir, in love, O then,’ quoth she,
‘Tell me what your three questions be.’
13.
‘O what is longer than the way,
Or what is deeper than the sea?
14.
‘Or what is louder than the horn,
Or what is sharper than a thorn?
15.
‘Or what is greener than the grass,
Or what is worse than a woman was?’
16.
‘O love is longer than the way,
And hell is deeper than the sea.
17.
‘And thunder is louder than the horn,
And hunger is sharper than a thorn.
18.
‘And poyson is greener than the grass,
And the Devil is worse than woman was.’
19.
When she these questions answered had,
The knight became exceeding glad.
20.
And having truly try’d her wit,
He much commended her for it.
21.
And after, as it is verifi’d,
He made of her his lovely bride.
22.
So now, fair maidens all, adieu,
This song I dedicate to you.
23.
I wish that you may constant prove
Vnto the man that you do love.
The Textis from Kinloch’sMSS., where it was written down from the recitation of Mary Barr: it is entitled ‘The Earl of Rosslyn’s Daughter.’
The Storyis the converse ofA Noble Riddle Wisely Expounded, in which the maid wins a husband by riddles; in the present one the captain out-riddles the maid. Similar tales are very popular in many lands, being found in Persia, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Turkey, Lithuania, East Siberia, etc.
Most of the lady’s riddles are found in an old English song, and its traditional derivatives. The song, which is given below, is found in SloaneMS.2593, which contains other carols and ballads (seepp. 123-8). From this is derived the nursery song beginning—
‘I had four brothers over the sea’
(with many variations:— ‘four sisters,’ ‘six lovers,’ ‘a true lover’), and with a curious half-Latin refrain which varies between
Para-mara, dictum, domine,
and
Peri-meri, dixi, domine.
The following is the song referred to above. It was twice printed by T. Wright from the fifteenth-centuryMS.
1.1.3‘drowryis’ = druries, keepsakes.I havea yong susterfer beyondyn the se;Many be the drowryisthat che sente me.2.2.3‘dowe,’ dove.Che sente me the cherye,withoutyn ony ston,And so che dede [the] dowe,withoutyn ony bon.3.3.1‘brere,’ brier: here perhaps the ‘hip’ of the dog-rose (see 7.1).3.3‘lemman,’ sweetheart.Sche sente me the brere,withoutyn ony rynde,Sche bad me love my lemmanwithoute longgyng.4.4.1etc. ‘xuld’ = should.How xuld ony cheryebe withoute ston?And how xuld ony doweben withoute bon?5.How xuld any brereben withoute rynde?How xuld I love my lemmanwithout longyng?6.Quan the cherye was a flour,than hadde it non ston;Quan the dowe was an ey,than hadde it non bon.7.6.3‘ey,’ egg.7.3‘hayt that che lovit,’ has what she loves.Quan the brere was onbred,than hadde it non rynd;Quan the mayden hayt that che lovit,che is without longing.
1.
1.3‘drowryis’ = druries, keepsakes.
I havea yong suster
fer beyondyn the se;
Many be the drowryis
that che sente me.
2.
2.3‘dowe,’ dove.
Che sente me the cherye,
withoutyn ony ston,
And so che dede [the] dowe,
withoutyn ony bon.
3.
3.1‘brere,’ brier: here perhaps the ‘hip’ of the dog-rose (see 7.1).
3.3‘lemman,’ sweetheart.
Sche sente me the brere,
withoutyn ony rynde,
Sche bad me love my lemman
withoute longgyng.
4.
4.1etc. ‘xuld’ = should.
How xuld ony cherye
be withoute ston?
And how xuld ony dowe
ben withoute bon?
5.
How xuld any brere
ben withoute rynde?
How xuld I love my lemman
without longyng?
6.
Quan the cherye was a flour,
than hadde it non ston;
Quan the dowe was an ey,
than hadde it non bon.
7.
6.3‘ey,’ egg.
7.3‘hayt that che lovit,’ has what she loves.
Quan the brere was onbred,
than hadde it non rynd;
Quan the mayden hayt that che lovit,
che is without longing.
1.TheLord of Rosslyn’s daughter gaed through the wud her lane,And there she met Captain Wedderburn, a servant to the king.He said unto his livery man, ‘Were ’t na agen the law,I wad tak her to my ain bed, and lay her at the wa’.’2.2.4The ‘stock’ of a bed is the outer side, and the ‘wa’’ (= wall) the inner. Ancient beds were made like boxes with the outer side cut away.‘I’m walking here my lane,’ she says, ‘amang my father’s trees;And ye may lat me walk my lane, kind sir, now gin ye please.The supper-bell it will be rung, and I’ll be miss’d awa’;Sae I’ll na lie in your bed, at neither stock nor wa’.’3.He said, ‘My pretty lady, I pray lend me your hand,And ye’ll hae drums and trumpets always at your command;And fifty men to guard ye wi’, that weel their swords can draw;Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll lie at the wa’.’4.‘Haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray lat go my hand;The supper-bell it will be rung, nae langer maun I stand.My father he’ll na supper tak, gif I be miss’d awa’;Sae I’ll na lie in your bed, at neither stock nor wa’.’5.‘O my name is Captain Wedderburn, my name I’ll ne’er deny,And I command ten thousand men, upo’ yon mountains high.Tho’ your father and his men were here, of them I’d stand na awe,But should tak ye to my ain bed, and lay ye neist the wa’.’6.Then he lap aff his milk-white steed, and set the lady on,And a’ the way he walk’d on foot, he held her by the hand;He held her by the middle jimp, for fear that she should fa’;Saying, ‘I’ll tak ye to my ain bed, and lay thee at the wa’.’7.7.1‘quartering-house,’ lodging-house.He took her to his quartering-house, his landlady looked ben,Saying, ‘Monie a pretty ladie in Edinbruch I’ve seen;But sic ’na pretty ladie is not into it a’:Gae, mak for her a fine down-bed, and lay her at the wa’.’8.‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray ye lat me be,For I’ll na lie in your bed till I get dishes three;Dishes three maun be dress’d for me, gif I should eat them a’,Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.9.9.3‘gaw,’ gall. It is an ancient superstition that the dove or pigeon has no gall, the fact being that the gall-bladder is absent. See Sir Thomas Browne’sPseudodoxia Epidemica, iii. 3.‘Tis I maun hae to my supper a chicken without a bane;And I maun hae to my supper a cherry without a stane;And I maun hae to my supper a bird without a gaw,Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’10.10.3‘genty,’ neat, limber. —Jamieson.‘Whan the chicken’s in the shell, I’m sure it has na bane;And whan the cherry’s in the bloom, I wat it has na stane;The dove she is a genty bird, she flees without a gaw;Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll be at the wa’.’11.‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray ye give me owre,For I’ll na lie in your bed, till I get presents four;Presents four ye maun gie me, and that is twa and twa,Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.12.‘Tis I maun hae some winter fruit that in December grew,And I maun hae a silk mantil that waft gaed never through;A sparrow’s horn, a priest unborn, this nicht to join us twa,Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’13.‘My father has some winter fruit that in December grew;My mither has a silk mantil the waft gaed never through;A sparrow’s horn ye soon may find, there’s ane on ev’ry claw,And twa upo’ the gab o’ it, and ye shall get them a’.14.14.1‘yett,’ gate.‘The priest he stands without the yett, just ready to come in;Nae man can say he e’er was born, nae man without he sin;He was haill cut frae his mither’s side, and frae the same let fa’:Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’se lie at the wa’.’15.‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray don’t me perplex,For I’ll na lie in your bed till ye answer questions six:Questions six ye maun answer me, and that is four and twa,Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.16.‘O what is greener than the gress, what’s higher than thae trees?O what is worse than women’s wish, what’s deeper than the seas?What bird craws first, what tree buds first, what first does on them fa’?Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’17.‘Death is greener than the gress, heaven higher than thae trees;The devil’s waur than women’s wish, hell’s deeper than the seas;The cock craws first, the cedar buds first, dew first on them does fa’;Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’se lie at the wa’,’18.Little did this lady think, that morning whan she raise,That this was for to be the last o’ a’ her maiden days.But there’s na into the king’s realm to be found a blither twa,And now she’s Mrs. Wedderburn, and she lies at the wa’.
1.
TheLord of Rosslyn’s daughter gaed through the wud her lane,
And there she met Captain Wedderburn, a servant to the king.
He said unto his livery man, ‘Were ’t na agen the law,
I wad tak her to my ain bed, and lay her at the wa’.’
2.
2.4The ‘stock’ of a bed is the outer side, and the ‘wa’’ (= wall) the inner. Ancient beds were made like boxes with the outer side cut away.
‘I’m walking here my lane,’ she says, ‘amang my father’s trees;
And ye may lat me walk my lane, kind sir, now gin ye please.
The supper-bell it will be rung, and I’ll be miss’d awa’;
Sae I’ll na lie in your bed, at neither stock nor wa’.’
3.
He said, ‘My pretty lady, I pray lend me your hand,
And ye’ll hae drums and trumpets always at your command;
And fifty men to guard ye wi’, that weel their swords can draw;
Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll lie at the wa’.’
4.
‘Haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray lat go my hand;
The supper-bell it will be rung, nae langer maun I stand.
My father he’ll na supper tak, gif I be miss’d awa’;
Sae I’ll na lie in your bed, at neither stock nor wa’.’
5.
‘O my name is Captain Wedderburn, my name I’ll ne’er deny,
And I command ten thousand men, upo’ yon mountains high.
Tho’ your father and his men were here, of them I’d stand na awe,
But should tak ye to my ain bed, and lay ye neist the wa’.’
6.
Then he lap aff his milk-white steed, and set the lady on,
And a’ the way he walk’d on foot, he held her by the hand;
He held her by the middle jimp, for fear that she should fa’;
Saying, ‘I’ll tak ye to my ain bed, and lay thee at the wa’.’
7.
7.1‘quartering-house,’ lodging-house.
He took her to his quartering-house, his landlady looked ben,
Saying, ‘Monie a pretty ladie in Edinbruch I’ve seen;
But sic ’na pretty ladie is not into it a’:
Gae, mak for her a fine down-bed, and lay her at the wa’.’
8.
‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray ye lat me be,
For I’ll na lie in your bed till I get dishes three;
Dishes three maun be dress’d for me, gif I should eat them a’,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.
9.
9.3‘gaw,’ gall. It is an ancient superstition that the dove or pigeon has no gall, the fact being that the gall-bladder is absent. See Sir Thomas Browne’sPseudodoxia Epidemica, iii. 3.
‘Tis I maun hae to my supper a chicken without a bane;
And I maun hae to my supper a cherry without a stane;
And I maun hae to my supper a bird without a gaw,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’
10.
10.3‘genty,’ neat, limber. —Jamieson.
‘Whan the chicken’s in the shell, I’m sure it has na bane;
And whan the cherry’s in the bloom, I wat it has na stane;
The dove she is a genty bird, she flees without a gaw;
Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’ll be at the wa’.’
11.
‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray ye give me owre,
For I’ll na lie in your bed, till I get presents four;
Presents four ye maun gie me, and that is twa and twa,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.
12.
‘Tis I maun hae some winter fruit that in December grew,
And I maun hae a silk mantil that waft gaed never through;
A sparrow’s horn, a priest unborn, this nicht to join us twa,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’
13.
‘My father has some winter fruit that in December grew;
My mither has a silk mantil the waft gaed never through;
A sparrow’s horn ye soon may find, there’s ane on ev’ry claw,
And twa upo’ the gab o’ it, and ye shall get them a’.
14.
14.1‘yett,’ gate.
‘The priest he stands without the yett, just ready to come in;
Nae man can say he e’er was born, nae man without he sin;
He was haill cut frae his mither’s side, and frae the same let fa’:
Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’se lie at the wa’.’
15.
‘O haud awa’ frae me, kind sir, I pray don’t me perplex,
For I’ll na lie in your bed till ye answer questions six:
Questions six ye maun answer me, and that is four and twa,
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.
16.
‘O what is greener than the gress, what’s higher than thae trees?
O what is worse than women’s wish, what’s deeper than the seas?
What bird craws first, what tree buds first, what first does on them fa’?
Before I lie in your bed, at either stock or wa’.’
17.
‘Death is greener than the gress, heaven higher than thae trees;
The devil’s waur than women’s wish, hell’s deeper than the seas;
The cock craws first, the cedar buds first, dew first on them does fa’;
Sae we’ll baith lie in ae bed, and ye’se lie at the wa’,’
18.
Little did this lady think, that morning whan she raise,
That this was for to be the last o’ a’ her maiden days.
But there’s na into the king’s realm to be found a blither twa,
And now she’s Mrs. Wedderburn, and she lies at the wa’.
The Textis from a broadside in black letter in the Pepysian Library at Cambridge; bound up at the end of a book published in 1673.
The Storyof this ballad but poorly represents the complete form of the story as exhibited in many German and other ballads, where alternate bargaining and riddling ensues between a man and a maid. This long series of ballads is akin to the still longer series in which the person upon whom an impossible task is imposed is considered to have got the mastery by retaliating with another impossible task.
The opening stanzas of this ballad correspond closely with those ofLady Isabel and the Elf-Knight.
My plaid awa, my plaid awa,And ore the hill and far awa,And far awa to Norrowa,My plaid shall not be blown awa.1.Theelphin knight sits on yon hill,Ba, ba, ba, lilli-baHe blaws his horn both lowd and shril.The wind hath blown my plaid awa2.He blowes it east, he blowes it west,He blowes it where he lyketh best.3.3.1‘kist,’ chest.‘I wish that horn were in my kist,Yea, and the knight in my armes two.’4.She had no sooner these words said,When that the knight came to her bed.5.‘Thou art over young a maid,’ quoth he,‘Married with me thou il wouldst be.’6.‘I have a sister younger than I,And she was married yesterday.’7.‘Married with me if thou wouldst be,A courtesie thou must do to me.8.8.1‘sark,’ shirt.‘For thou must shape a sark to me,Without any cut or heme,’ quoth he.9.‘Thou must shape it knife-and-sheerlesse,And also sue it needle-threedlesse.’10.‘If that piece of courtesie I do to thee,Another thou must do to me.11.‘I have an aiker of good ley-land,Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand.12.12.1‘eare,’ plough.‘For thou must eare it with thy horn,So thou must sow it with thy corn.13.13.1‘bigg,’ build.‘And bigg a cart of stone and lyme,Robin Redbreast he must trail it hame.14.‘Thou must barn it in a mouse-holl,And thrash it into thy shoe’s soll.15.15.1‘looff,’ palm.15.2‘seek,’ sack.‘And thou must winnow it in thy looff,And also seek it in thy glove.16.‘For thou must bring it over the sea,And thou must bring it dry home to me.17.‘When thou hast gotten thy turns well done,Then come to me and get thy sark then.’18.‘I’ll not quite my plaid for my life;It haps my seven bairns and my wife.’The wind shall not blow my plaid awa19.‘My maidenhead I’l then keep still,Let the elphin knight do what he will.’The wind’s not blown my plaid awa
My plaid awa, my plaid awa,
And ore the hill and far awa,
And far awa to Norrowa,
My plaid shall not be blown awa.
1.
Theelphin knight sits on yon hill,
Ba, ba, ba, lilli-ba
He blaws his horn both lowd and shril.
The wind hath blown my plaid awa
2.
He blowes it east, he blowes it west,
He blowes it where he lyketh best.
3.
3.1‘kist,’ chest.
‘I wish that horn were in my kist,
Yea, and the knight in my armes two.’
4.
She had no sooner these words said,
When that the knight came to her bed.
5.
‘Thou art over young a maid,’ quoth he,
‘Married with me thou il wouldst be.’
6.
‘I have a sister younger than I,
And she was married yesterday.’
7.
‘Married with me if thou wouldst be,
A courtesie thou must do to me.
8.
8.1‘sark,’ shirt.
‘For thou must shape a sark to me,
Without any cut or heme,’ quoth he.
9.
‘Thou must shape it knife-and-sheerlesse,
And also sue it needle-threedlesse.’
10.
‘If that piece of courtesie I do to thee,
Another thou must do to me.
11.
‘I have an aiker of good ley-land,
Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand.
12.
12.1‘eare,’ plough.
‘For thou must eare it with thy horn,
So thou must sow it with thy corn.
13.
13.1‘bigg,’ build.
‘And bigg a cart of stone and lyme,
Robin Redbreast he must trail it hame.
14.
‘Thou must barn it in a mouse-holl,
And thrash it into thy shoe’s soll.
15.
15.1‘looff,’ palm.
15.2‘seek,’ sack.
‘And thou must winnow it in thy looff,
And also seek it in thy glove.
16.
‘For thou must bring it over the sea,
And thou must bring it dry home to me.
17.
‘When thou hast gotten thy turns well done,
Then come to me and get thy sark then.’
18.
‘I’ll not quite my plaid for my life;
It haps my seven bairns and my wife.’
The wind shall not blow my plaid awa
19.
‘My maidenhead I’l then keep still,
Let the elphin knight do what he will.’
The wind’s not blown my plaid awa