Text.— The Percy Folio is the sole authority for this excellent ballad, and the text of theMS.is therefore given hereliteratim, in preference to the copy served up ‘with considerable corrections’ by Percy in theReliques. I have, however, substituted a few obvious emendations suggested by Professor Child, giving the Folio reading in a footnote.
The Storyis practically identical with that ofLittle Musgrave and Lady Barnard; but each is so good, though in a different vein, that neither could be excluded.
The last stanza narrates the practice of burning a cross on the flesh of the right shoulder when setting forth to the Holy Land—a practice which obtained only among the very devout or superstitious of the Crusaders. Usually a cross of red cloth attached to the right shoulder of the coat was deemed sufficient.
1.God!let neuer soe old a manMarry soe yonge a wiffeAs did old Robin of Portingale!He may rue all the dayes of his liffe.2.2.1‘Lin,’ a stock ballad-locality: cp.Young Bekie, 5.4.Ffor the Maior’s daughter of Lin, God wott,He chose her to his wife,& thought to haue liued in quiettnesseWith her all the dayes of his liffe.3.They had not in their wed bed laid,Scarcly were both on sleepe,But vpp she rose, & forth shee goesTo Sir Gyles, & fast can weepe.4.Saies, ‘Sleepe you, wake you, faire Sir GylesOr be not you within?’..........5.5.3‘vnbethought.’ The same expression occurs in two other places in the Percy Folio, each time apparently in the same sense of ‘bethought [him] of.’‘But I am waking, sweete,’ he said,‘Lady, what is your will?’‘I haue vnbethought me of a wile,How my wed lord we shall spill.6.6.1,3‘Four and twenty’: the Folio gives ‘24’ in each case.‘Four and twenty knights,’ she sayes,‘That dwells about this towne,Eene four and twenty of my next cozens,Will helpe to dinge him downe.’7.With that beheard his litle foote page,As he was watering his master’s steed,Soe.....His verry heart did bleed;8.8.1‘sikt,’ sighed. The Folio readssist.He mourned, sikt, & wept full sore;I sweare by the holy roode,The teares he for his master weptWere blend water & bloude.9.With that beheard his deare masterAs in his garden sate;Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, my litle page,What causes thee to weepe?10.’Hath any one done to thee wronge,Any of thy fellowes here?Or is any of thy good friends dead,Which makes thee shed such teares?11.11.1, 12.1The Folio readsbookes man; but see 15.1‘Or if it be my head kookes manGreiued againe he shalbe,Nor noe man within my howseShall doe wrong vnto thee.’12.‘But it is not your head kookes man,Nor none of his degree,But or tomorrow ere it be noone,You are deemed to die;13.‘& of that thanke your head steward,& after your gay ladie.’‘If it be true, my litle foote page,Ile make thee heyre of all my land.’14.14.2‘thye,’ thrive: the Folio readsdye.‘If it be not true, my deare master,God let me neuer thye.’‘If it be not true, thou litle foot page,A dead corse shalt thou be.’15.He called downe his head kooke’s man:‘Cooke, in kitchen super to dresse’:‘All & anon, my deare master,Anon att your request.’16.‘& call you downe my faire Lady,This night to supp with mee.’..........17.& downe then came that fayre Lady,Was cladd all in purple & palle,The rings that were vpon her fingersCast light thorrow the hall.18.‘What is your will, my owne wed Lord,What is your will with me?’‘I am sicke, fayre Lady,Sore sicke, & like to dye.’19.19.1‘&’ = an, if.‘But & you be sicke, my owne wed Lord,Soe sore it greiueth mee,But my 5 maydens & my selfeWill goe & make your bedd,20.20.3‘next’: the Folio readsfirstagain; probably the copyist’s error.‘& at the wakening of your first sleepe,You shall haue a hott drinke made,& at the wakening of your next sleepeYour sorrowes will haue a slake.’21.He put a silke cote on his backe,Was 13 inches folde,& put a steele cap vpon his head,Was gilded with good red gold;22.& he layd a bright browne sword by his side& another att his ffeete,& full well knew old Robin thenWhether he shold wake or sleepe.23.23.4‘ginne,’ door-latch.& about the middle time of the nightCame 24 good knights in,Sir Gyles he was the formost man,Soe well he knew that ginne.24.24.4‘quicke,’ alive. The last word was added by Percy in the Folio.Old Robin with a bright browne swordSir Gyles’ head he did winne,Soe did he all those 24,Neuer a one went quicke out [agen];25.25.4Added by Hales and Furnivall.None but one litle foot pageCrept forth at a window of stone,& he had 2 armes when he came inAnd [when he went out he had none].26.26.1,2lightandbrightare interchanged in the Folio.Vpp then came that ladie lightWith torches burning bright;Shee thought to haue brought Sir Gyles a drinke,But shee found her owne wedd knight;27.& the first thing that this ladye stumbled vpon,Was of Sir Gyles his ffoote;Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, & woe is me,Heere lyes my sweete hart roote!’28.& the 2d. thing that this ladie stumbled on,Was of Sir Gyles his head;Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, & woe is me,Heere lyes my true loue deade!’29.Hee cutt the papps beside her brest,& bad her wish her will,& he cutt the eares beside her heade,& bade her wish on still.30.‘Mickle is the man’s blood I haue spentTo doe thee & me some good’;Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, my fayre Lady,I thinke that I was woode!’31.He call’d then vp his litle foote page,& made him heyre of all his land,..........32.32.3‘went’: the Folio givessent.& he shope the crosse in his right sholderOf the white flesh & the redd,& he went him into the holy land,Wheras Christ was quicke and dead.
1.
God!let neuer soe old a man
Marry soe yonge a wiffe
As did old Robin of Portingale!
He may rue all the dayes of his liffe.
2.
2.1‘Lin,’ a stock ballad-locality: cp.Young Bekie, 5.4.
Ffor the Maior’s daughter of Lin, God wott,
He chose her to his wife,
& thought to haue liued in quiettnesse
With her all the dayes of his liffe.
3.
They had not in their wed bed laid,
Scarcly were both on sleepe,
But vpp she rose, & forth shee goes
To Sir Gyles, & fast can weepe.
4.
Saies, ‘Sleepe you, wake you, faire Sir Gyles
Or be not you within?’
.....
.....
5.
5.3‘vnbethought.’ The same expression occurs in two other places in the Percy Folio, each time apparently in the same sense of ‘bethought [him] of.’
‘But I am waking, sweete,’ he said,
‘Lady, what is your will?’
‘I haue vnbethought me of a wile,
How my wed lord we shall spill.
6.
6.1,3‘Four and twenty’: the Folio gives ‘24’ in each case.
‘Four and twenty knights,’ she sayes,
‘That dwells about this towne,
Eene four and twenty of my next cozens,
Will helpe to dinge him downe.’
7.
With that beheard his litle foote page,
As he was watering his master’s steed,
Soe.....
His verry heart did bleed;
8.
8.1‘sikt,’ sighed. The Folio readssist.
He mourned, sikt, & wept full sore;
I sweare by the holy roode,
The teares he for his master wept
Were blend water & bloude.
9.
With that beheard his deare master
As in his garden sate;
Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, my litle page,
What causes thee to weepe?
10.
’Hath any one done to thee wronge,
Any of thy fellowes here?
Or is any of thy good friends dead,
Which makes thee shed such teares?
11.
11.1, 12.1The Folio readsbookes man; but see 15.1
‘Or if it be my head kookes man
Greiued againe he shalbe,
Nor noe man within my howse
Shall doe wrong vnto thee.’
12.
‘But it is not your head kookes man,
Nor none of his degree,
But or tomorrow ere it be noone,
You are deemed to die;
13.
‘& of that thanke your head steward,
& after your gay ladie.’
‘If it be true, my litle foote page,
Ile make thee heyre of all my land.’
14.
14.2‘thye,’ thrive: the Folio readsdye.
‘If it be not true, my deare master,
God let me neuer thye.’
‘If it be not true, thou litle foot page,
A dead corse shalt thou be.’
15.
He called downe his head kooke’s man:
‘Cooke, in kitchen super to dresse’:
‘All & anon, my deare master,
Anon att your request.’
16.
‘& call you downe my faire Lady,
This night to supp with mee.’
.....
.....
17.
& downe then came that fayre Lady,
Was cladd all in purple & palle,
The rings that were vpon her fingers
Cast light thorrow the hall.
18.
‘What is your will, my owne wed Lord,
What is your will with me?’
‘I am sicke, fayre Lady,
Sore sicke, & like to dye.’
19.
19.1‘&’ = an, if.
‘But & you be sicke, my owne wed Lord,
Soe sore it greiueth mee,
But my 5 maydens & my selfe
Will goe & make your bedd,
20.
20.3‘next’: the Folio readsfirstagain; probably the copyist’s error.
‘& at the wakening of your first sleepe,
You shall haue a hott drinke made,
& at the wakening of your next sleepe
Your sorrowes will haue a slake.’
21.
He put a silke cote on his backe,
Was 13 inches folde,
& put a steele cap vpon his head,
Was gilded with good red gold;
22.
& he layd a bright browne sword by his side
& another att his ffeete,
& full well knew old Robin then
Whether he shold wake or sleepe.
23.
23.4‘ginne,’ door-latch.
& about the middle time of the night
Came 24 good knights in,
Sir Gyles he was the formost man,
Soe well he knew that ginne.
24.
24.4‘quicke,’ alive. The last word was added by Percy in the Folio.
Old Robin with a bright browne sword
Sir Gyles’ head he did winne,
Soe did he all those 24,
Neuer a one went quicke out [agen];
25.
25.4Added by Hales and Furnivall.
None but one litle foot page
Crept forth at a window of stone,
& he had 2 armes when he came in
And [when he went out he had none].
26.
26.1,2lightandbrightare interchanged in the Folio.
Vpp then came that ladie light
With torches burning bright;
Shee thought to haue brought Sir Gyles a drinke,
But shee found her owne wedd knight;
27.
& the first thing that this ladye stumbled vpon,
Was of Sir Gyles his ffoote;
Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, & woe is me,
Heere lyes my sweete hart roote!’
28.
& the 2d. thing that this ladie stumbled on,
Was of Sir Gyles his head;
Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, & woe is me,
Heere lyes my true loue deade!’
29.
Hee cutt the papps beside her brest,
& bad her wish her will,
& he cutt the eares beside her heade,
& bade her wish on still.
30.
‘Mickle is the man’s blood I haue spent
To doe thee & me some good’;
Sayes, ‘Euer alacke, my fayre Lady,
I thinke that I was woode!’
31.
He call’d then vp his litle foote page,
& made him heyre of all his land,
.....
.....
32.
32.3‘went’: the Folio givessent.
& he shope the crosse in his right sholder
Of the white flesh & the redd,
& he went him into the holy land,
Wheras Christ was quicke and dead.
The Texthere given is the version printed, with very few variations, inWit Restor’d, 1658,Wit and Drollery, 1682, Dryden’sMiscellany, 1716, etc. The Percy Folio contains a fragmentary version, consisting of some dozen stanzas. Child says that all the Scottish versions are late, and probably derived, though taken down from oral tradition, from printed copies. As recompense, we have the ScotchBonny Birdy.
The Storywould seem to be purely English. That it was popular long before the earliest known text is proved by quotations from it in old plays: as fromFair Margaret and Sweet William. Merrythought inThe Knight of the Burning Pestle(1611) sings from this ballad a version of stanza 14, and Beaumont and Fletcher also put quotations into the mouths of characters inBonduca(circ. 1619) andMonsieur Thomas(circ. 1639). Other plays before 1650 also mention it.
The reader should remember, once for all, that burdens are to be repeated in every verse, though printed only in the first.
1.Asit fell one holy-day,Hay downeAs many be in the yeare,When young men and maids together did goe,Their mattins and masse to heare;2.Little Musgrave came to the church-dore;—The preist was at private masse;—But he had more minde of the faire womenThen he had of our lady[’s] grace.3.3.2‘pall,’ a cloak: some versions readpale.The one of them was clad in green,Another was clad in pall,And then came in my lord Barnard’s wife,The fairest amonst them all.4.She cast an eye on Little Musgrave,As bright as the summer sun;And then bethought this Little Musgrave,‘This lady’s heart have I woonn.’5.Quoth she, ‘I have loved thee, Little Musgrave,Full long and many a day’;‘So have I loved you, fair lady,Yet never word durst I say.’6.6.2‘deight,’i.e.dight, decked, dressed.‘I have a bower at Bucklesfordbery,Full daintyly is it deight;If thou wilt wend thither, thou Little Musgrave,Thou’s lig in mine armes all night.’7.Quoth he, ‘I thank yee, fair lady,This kindnes thou showest to me;But whether it be to my weal or woe,This night I will lig with thee.’8.With that he heard, a little tynë page,By his ladye’s coach as he ran:‘All though I am my ladye’s foot-page,Yet I am Lord Barnard’s man.9.‘My lord Barnard shall knowe of this,Whether I sink or swim’;And ever where the bridges were broakeHe laid him downe to swimme.10.‘A sleepe or wake, thou Lord Barnard,As thou art a man of life,For Little Musgrave is at Bucklesfordbery,A bed with thy own wedded wife.’11.‘If this be true, thou little tinny page,This thing thou tellest to me,Then all the land in BucklesfordberyI freely will give to thee.12.‘But if it be a ly, thou little tinny page,This thing thou tellest to me,On the hyest tree in BucklesfordberyThen hanged shalt thou be.’13.He called up his merry men all:‘Come saddle me my steed;This night must I to Bucklesfordbery,For I never had greater need.’14.And some of them whistled, and some of them sung,And some these words did say,And ever when my lord Barnard’s horn blew,‘Away, Musgrave, away!’15.15.1‘thresel-cock,’ throstle, thrush.‘Methinks I hear the thresel-cock,Methinks I hear the jaye;Methinks I hear my Lord Barnard,And I would I were away!’16.‘Lye still, lye still, thou little Musgrave,And huggell me from the cold;’Tis nothing but a shephard’s boyA driving his sheep to the fold.17.‘Is not thy hawke upon a perch,Thy steed eats oats and hay,And thou a fair lady in thine armes,And wouldst thou bee away?’18.With that my lord Barnard came to the dore,And lit a stone upon;He plucked out three silver keysAnd he open’d the dores each one.19.He lifted up the coverlett,He lifted up the sheet:‘How now, how now, thou Little Musgrave,Doest thou find my lady sweet?’20.‘I find her sweet,’ quoth Little Musgrave,‘The more ’tis to my paine;I would gladly give three hundred poundsThat I were on yonder plaine.’21.‘Arise, arise, thou Little Musgrave,And put thy clothës on;It shall nere be said in my countryI have killed a naked man.22.‘I have two swords in one scabberd,Full deere they cost my purse;And thou shalt have the best of them,And I will have the worse.’23.The first stroke that Little Musgrave stroke,He hurt Lord Barnard sore;The next stroke that Lord Barnard stroke,Little Musgrave nere struck more.24.With that bespake this faire lady,In bed whereas she lay:‘Although thou’rt dead, thou Little Musgrave,Yet I for thee will pray.25.‘And wish well to thy soule will I,So long as I have life;So will I not for thee, Barnard,Although I am thy wedded wife.’26.He cut her paps from off her brest;Great pitty it was to seeThat some drops of this ladies heart’s bloodRan trickling downe her knee.27.27.4‘wood,’ wild, fierce.‘Woe worth you, woe worth, my mery men all,You were nere borne for my good;Why did you not offer to stay my hand,When you see me wax so wood?28.‘For I have slaine the bravest sir knightThat ever rode on steed;So have I done the fairest ladyThat over did woman’s deed.29.‘A grave, a grave,’ Lord Barnard cry’d,‘To put these lovers in;But lay my lady on the upper hand,For she came of the better kin.’
1.
Asit fell one holy-day,
Hay downe
As many be in the yeare,
When young men and maids together did goe,
Their mattins and masse to heare;
2.
Little Musgrave came to the church-dore;—
The preist was at private masse;—
But he had more minde of the faire women
Then he had of our lady[’s] grace.
3.
3.2‘pall,’ a cloak: some versions readpale.
The one of them was clad in green,
Another was clad in pall,
And then came in my lord Barnard’s wife,
The fairest amonst them all.
4.
She cast an eye on Little Musgrave,
As bright as the summer sun;
And then bethought this Little Musgrave,
‘This lady’s heart have I woonn.’
5.
Quoth she, ‘I have loved thee, Little Musgrave,
Full long and many a day’;
‘So have I loved you, fair lady,
Yet never word durst I say.’
6.
6.2‘deight,’i.e.dight, decked, dressed.
‘I have a bower at Bucklesfordbery,
Full daintyly is it deight;
If thou wilt wend thither, thou Little Musgrave,
Thou’s lig in mine armes all night.’
7.
Quoth he, ‘I thank yee, fair lady,
This kindnes thou showest to me;
But whether it be to my weal or woe,
This night I will lig with thee.’
8.
With that he heard, a little tynë page,
By his ladye’s coach as he ran:
‘All though I am my ladye’s foot-page,
Yet I am Lord Barnard’s man.
9.
‘My lord Barnard shall knowe of this,
Whether I sink or swim’;
And ever where the bridges were broake
He laid him downe to swimme.
10.
‘A sleepe or wake, thou Lord Barnard,
As thou art a man of life,
For Little Musgrave is at Bucklesfordbery,
A bed with thy own wedded wife.’
11.
‘If this be true, thou little tinny page,
This thing thou tellest to me,
Then all the land in Bucklesfordbery
I freely will give to thee.
12.
‘But if it be a ly, thou little tinny page,
This thing thou tellest to me,
On the hyest tree in Bucklesfordbery
Then hanged shalt thou be.’
13.
He called up his merry men all:
‘Come saddle me my steed;
This night must I to Bucklesfordbery,
For I never had greater need.’
14.
And some of them whistled, and some of them sung,
And some these words did say,
And ever when my lord Barnard’s horn blew,
‘Away, Musgrave, away!’
15.
15.1‘thresel-cock,’ throstle, thrush.
‘Methinks I hear the thresel-cock,
Methinks I hear the jaye;
Methinks I hear my Lord Barnard,
And I would I were away!’
16.
‘Lye still, lye still, thou little Musgrave,
And huggell me from the cold;
’Tis nothing but a shephard’s boy
A driving his sheep to the fold.
17.
‘Is not thy hawke upon a perch,
Thy steed eats oats and hay,
And thou a fair lady in thine armes,
And wouldst thou bee away?’
18.
With that my lord Barnard came to the dore,
And lit a stone upon;
He plucked out three silver keys
And he open’d the dores each one.
19.
He lifted up the coverlett,
He lifted up the sheet:
‘How now, how now, thou Little Musgrave,
Doest thou find my lady sweet?’
20.
‘I find her sweet,’ quoth Little Musgrave,
‘The more ’tis to my paine;
I would gladly give three hundred pounds
That I were on yonder plaine.’
21.
‘Arise, arise, thou Little Musgrave,
And put thy clothës on;
It shall nere be said in my country
I have killed a naked man.
22.
‘I have two swords in one scabberd,
Full deere they cost my purse;
And thou shalt have the best of them,
And I will have the worse.’
23.
The first stroke that Little Musgrave stroke,
He hurt Lord Barnard sore;
The next stroke that Lord Barnard stroke,
Little Musgrave nere struck more.
24.
With that bespake this faire lady,
In bed whereas she lay:
‘Although thou’rt dead, thou Little Musgrave,
Yet I for thee will pray.
25.
‘And wish well to thy soule will I,
So long as I have life;
So will I not for thee, Barnard,
Although I am thy wedded wife.’
26.
He cut her paps from off her brest;
Great pitty it was to see
That some drops of this ladies heart’s blood
Ran trickling downe her knee.
27.
27.4‘wood,’ wild, fierce.
‘Woe worth you, woe worth, my mery men all,
You were nere borne for my good;
Why did you not offer to stay my hand,
When you see me wax so wood?
28.
‘For I have slaine the bravest sir knight
That ever rode on steed;
So have I done the fairest lady
That over did woman’s deed.
29.
‘A grave, a grave,’ Lord Barnard cry’d,
‘To put these lovers in;
But lay my lady on the upper hand,
For she came of the better kin.’
Text.—From the Jamieson-BrownMS.Jamieson, in printing this ballad, enlarged and rewrote much of it, making the burden part of the dialogue throughout.
The Storyis much the same as that ofLittle Musgrave and Lady Barnard; but the ballad as a whole is worthy of comparison with the longer English ballad for the sake of its lyrical setting.
1.Therewas a knight, in a summer’s night,Was riding o’er the lee, (diddle)An’ there he saw a bonny birdy,Was singing upon a tree. (diddle)O wow for day! (diddle)An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)Gin it were day, an’ gin I were away,For I ha’ na lang time to stay. (diddle)2.2.4‘blate,’ astonished, abashed.‘Make hast, make hast, ye gentle knight,What keeps you here so late?Gin ye kent what was doing at hame,I fear you woud look blate.’3.‘O what needs I toil day an’ night,My fair body to kill,Whan I hae knights at my comman’,An’ ladys at my will?’4.‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye gentle knight,Sa loud’s I hear you lee;Your lady’s a knight in her arms twaThat she lees far better nor thee.’5.‘Ye lee, ye lee, you bonny birdy,How you lee upo’ my sweet!I will tak’ out my bonny bow,An’ in troth I will you sheet.’6.‘But afore ye hae your bow well bent,An’ a’ your arrows yare,I will flee till another tree,Whare I can better fare.’7.7.1‘clecked,’ hatched.‘O whare was you gotten, and whare was ye clecked?My bonny birdy, tell me’;‘O I was clecked in good green wood,Intill a holly tree;A gentleman my nest herryedAn’ ga’ me to his lady.8.8.1‘A Farrow Cow is a Cow that gives Milk in the second year after her Calving, having no Calf that year.’—Holme’sArmoury, 1688.’Wi’ good white bread an’ farrow-cow milkHe bade her feed me aft,An’ ga’ her a little wee simmer-dale wanny,To ding me sindle and saft.9.8.3‘wanny,’ wand, rod: ‘simmer-dale,’ apparently = summer-dale.8.4‘sindle,’ seldom.‘Wi’ good white bread an’ farrow-cow milkI wot she fed me nought,But wi’ a little wee simmer-dale wannyShe dang me sair an’ aft:Gin she had deen as ye her bade,I wouldna tell how she has wrought.’10.10.5‘crap,’ top.10.6‘dight,’ freely, readily.The knight he rade, and the birdy flew,The live-lang simmer’s night,Till he came till his lady’s bow’r-door,Then even down he did light:The birdy sat on the crap of a tree,An’ I wot it sang fu’ dight.11.‘O wow for day! (diddle)An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)Gin it were day, and gin I were away,For I ha’ na lang time to stay.’ (diddle)12.‘What needs ye lang for day, (diddle)An’ wish that you were away? (diddle)Is no your hounds i’ my cellar.Eating white meal and gray?’ (diddle)‘O wow for day,’etc.13.‘Is nae you[r] steed in my stable,Eating good corn an’ hay?An’ is nae your hawk i’ my perch-tree,Just perching for his prey?An’ is nae yoursel i’ my arms twa?Then how can ye lang for day?’14.‘O wow for day! (diddle)An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)For he that’s in bed wi’ anither man’s wifeHas never lang time to stay.’ (diddle)15.15.1-4Cp.Clerk Sanders, 15.Then out the knight has drawn his sword,An’ straiked it o’er a strae,An’ thro’ and thro’ the fa’se knight’s wasteHe gard cauld iron gae:An’ I hope ilk ane sal sae be serv’dThat treats ane honest man sae.
1.
Therewas a knight, in a summer’s night,
Was riding o’er the lee, (diddle)
An’ there he saw a bonny birdy,
Was singing upon a tree. (diddle)
O wow for day! (diddle)
An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)
Gin it were day, an’ gin I were away,
For I ha’ na lang time to stay. (diddle)
2.
2.4‘blate,’ astonished, abashed.
‘Make hast, make hast, ye gentle knight,
What keeps you here so late?
Gin ye kent what was doing at hame,
I fear you woud look blate.’
3.
‘O what needs I toil day an’ night,
My fair body to kill,
Whan I hae knights at my comman’,
An’ ladys at my will?’
4.
‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye gentle knight,
Sa loud’s I hear you lee;
Your lady’s a knight in her arms twa
That she lees far better nor thee.’
5.
‘Ye lee, ye lee, you bonny birdy,
How you lee upo’ my sweet!
I will tak’ out my bonny bow,
An’ in troth I will you sheet.’
6.
‘But afore ye hae your bow well bent,
An’ a’ your arrows yare,
I will flee till another tree,
Whare I can better fare.’
7.
7.1‘clecked,’ hatched.
‘O whare was you gotten, and whare was ye clecked?
My bonny birdy, tell me’;
‘O I was clecked in good green wood,
Intill a holly tree;
A gentleman my nest herryed
An’ ga’ me to his lady.
8.
8.1‘A Farrow Cow is a Cow that gives Milk in the second year after her Calving, having no Calf that year.’—Holme’sArmoury, 1688.
’Wi’ good white bread an’ farrow-cow milk
He bade her feed me aft,
An’ ga’ her a little wee simmer-dale wanny,
To ding me sindle and saft.
9.
8.3‘wanny,’ wand, rod: ‘simmer-dale,’ apparently = summer-dale.
8.4‘sindle,’ seldom.
‘Wi’ good white bread an’ farrow-cow milk
I wot she fed me nought,
But wi’ a little wee simmer-dale wanny
She dang me sair an’ aft:
Gin she had deen as ye her bade,
I wouldna tell how she has wrought.’
10.
10.5‘crap,’ top.
10.6‘dight,’ freely, readily.
The knight he rade, and the birdy flew,
The live-lang simmer’s night,
Till he came till his lady’s bow’r-door,
Then even down he did light:
The birdy sat on the crap of a tree,
An’ I wot it sang fu’ dight.
11.
‘O wow for day! (diddle)
An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)
Gin it were day, and gin I were away,
For I ha’ na lang time to stay.’ (diddle)
12.
‘What needs ye lang for day, (diddle)
An’ wish that you were away? (diddle)
Is no your hounds i’ my cellar.
Eating white meal and gray?’ (diddle)
‘O wow for day,’etc.
13.
‘Is nae you[r] steed in my stable,
Eating good corn an’ hay?
An’ is nae your hawk i’ my perch-tree,
Just perching for his prey?
An’ is nae yoursel i’ my arms twa?
Then how can ye lang for day?’
14.
‘O wow for day! (diddle)
An’ dear gin it were day! (diddle)
For he that’s in bed wi’ anither man’s wife
Has never lang time to stay.’ (diddle)
15.
15.1-4Cp.Clerk Sanders, 15.
Then out the knight has drawn his sword,
An’ straiked it o’er a strae,
An’ thro’ and thro’ the fa’se knight’s waste
He gard cauld iron gae:
An’ I hope ilk ane sal sae be serv’d
That treats ane honest man sae.
picture
The Textis that of Scott’sMinstrelsy, ‘chiefly from the recitation of an old woman.’ Scott names the ballad ‘Lord Thomas and Fair Annie,’ adding to the confusion already existing with ‘Lord Thomas and Fair Annet.’
The Story.—Fair Annie, stolen from the home of her father, the Earl of Wemyss, by ‘a knight out o’er the sea,’ has borne seven sons to him. He now bids her prepare to welcome home his real bride, and she meekly obeys, suppressing her tears with difficulty. Lord Thomas and his new-come bride hear, through the wall of their bridal chamber, Annie bewailing her lot, and wishing her seven sons had never been born. The bride goes to comfort her, discovers in her a long-lost sister, and departs, thanking heaven she goes a maiden home.
Of this ballad, Herd printed a fragment in 1769, some stanzas being incorporated in the present version. Similar tales abound in the folklore of Scandinavia, Holland, and Germany. But, three hundred years older than any version of the ballad, is the lay of Marie de France,Le Lai de Freisne; which, nevertheless, is only another offshoot of some undiscovered common origin.
It is imperative (in 4.4) that Annie shouldbraidher hair, as a sign of virginity: married women only bound up their hair, or wore it under a cap.
1.‘It’snarrow, narrow, make your bed,And learn to lie your lane;For I’m ga’n o’er the sea, Fair Annie,A braw bride to bring hame.Wi’ her I will get gowd and gear;Wi’ you I ne’er got nane.2.‘But wha will bake my bridal bread,Or brew my bridal ale?And wha will welcome my brisk bride,That I bring o’er the dale?’3.‘It’s I will bake your bridal bread,And brew your bridal ale;And I will welcome your brisk bride,That you bring o’er the dale.’4.‘But she that welcomes my brisk brideMaun gang like maiden fair;She maun lace on her robe sae jimp,And braid her yellow hair.’5.‘But how can I gang maiden-like,When maiden I am nane?Have I not born seven sons to thee,And am with child again?’6.She’s taen her young son in her arms,Another in her hand,And she’s up to the highest tower,To see him come to land.7.‘Come up, come up, my eldest son,And look o’er yon sea-strand,And see your father’s new-come bride,Before she come to land.’8.‘Come down, come down, my mother dear,Come frae the castle wa’!I fear, if langer ye stand there,Ye’ll let yoursell down fa’.’9.And she gaed down, and farther down,Her love’s ship for to see,And the topmast and the mainmastShone like the silver free.10.And she’s gane down, and farther down,The bride’s ship to behold,And the topmast and the mainmastThey shone just like the gold.11.She’s taen her seven sons in her hand,I wot she didna fail;She met Lord Thomas and his bride,As they came o’er the dale.12.‘You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas,You’re welcome to your land;You’re welcome with your fair ladye,That you lead by the hand.13.‘You’re welcome to your ha’s, ladye,You’re welcome to your bowers;You’re welcome to your hame, ladye,For a’ that’s here is yours.’14.‘I thank thee, Annie, I thank thee, Annie,Sae dearly as I thank thee;You’re the likest to my sister Annie,That ever I did see.15.15.3‘scoup,’ fly, hasten.‘There came a knight out o’er the sea,And steal’d my sister away;The shame scoup in his company,And land where’er he gae!’16.She hang ae napkin at the door,Another in the ha’,And a’ to wipe the trickling tears,Sae fast as they did fa’.17.17.4‘had’ = haud, hold.And aye she served the long tables,With white bread and with wine;And aye she drank the wan water,To had her colour fine.18.And aye she served the lang tables,With white bread and with brown;And ay she turned her round aboutSae fast the tears fell down.19.And he’s taen down the silk napkin,Hung on a silver pin,And aye he wipes the tear tricklingA’ down her cheek and chin.20.And aye he turned him round about,And smil’d amang his men;Says, ‘Like ye best the old ladye,Or her that’s new come hame?’21.When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a’ men bound to bed,Lord Thomas and his new-come brideTo their chamber they were gaed.22.22.1‘forbye,’ apart.Annie made her bed a little forbye,To hear what they might say;‘And ever alas,’ Fair Annie cried,‘That I should see this day!23.‘Gin my seven sons were seven young ratsRunning on the castle wa’,And I were a gray cat mysell,I soon would worry them a’.24.24.2‘lilly lee,’ lovely lea.‘Gin my seven sons were seven young hares,Running o’er yon lilly lee,And I were a grew hound mysell,Soon worried they a’ should be.’25.And wae and sad Fair Annie sat,And drearie was her sang,And ever, as she sobb’d and grat,‘Wae to the man that did the wrang!’26.‘My gown is on,’ said the new-come bride,‘My shoes are on my feet,And I will to Fair Annie’s chamber,And see what gars her greet.27.‘What ails ye, what ails ye, Fair Annie,That ye make sic a moan?Has your wine barrels cast the girds,Or is your white bread gone?28.‘O wha was’t was your father, Annie,Or wha was’t was your mother?And had ye ony sister, Annie,Or had ye ony brother?’29.‘The Earl of Wemyss was my father,The Countess of Wemyss my mother;And a’ the folk about the houseTo me were sister and brother.’30.30.4‘tyne,’ lose.‘If the Earl of Wemyss was your father,I wot sae he was mine;And it shall not be for lack o’ gowdThat ye your love sall tyne.31.‘For I have seven ships o’ mine ain,A’ loaded to the brim,And I will gie them a’ to thee,Wi’ four to thine eldest son:But thanks to a’ the powers in heavenThat I gae maiden hame!’
1.
‘It’snarrow, narrow, make your bed,
And learn to lie your lane;
For I’m ga’n o’er the sea, Fair Annie,
A braw bride to bring hame.
Wi’ her I will get gowd and gear;
Wi’ you I ne’er got nane.
2.
‘But wha will bake my bridal bread,
Or brew my bridal ale?
And wha will welcome my brisk bride,
That I bring o’er the dale?’
3.
‘It’s I will bake your bridal bread,
And brew your bridal ale;
And I will welcome your brisk bride,
That you bring o’er the dale.’
4.
‘But she that welcomes my brisk bride
Maun gang like maiden fair;
She maun lace on her robe sae jimp,
And braid her yellow hair.’
5.
‘But how can I gang maiden-like,
When maiden I am nane?
Have I not born seven sons to thee,
And am with child again?’
6.
She’s taen her young son in her arms,
Another in her hand,
And she’s up to the highest tower,
To see him come to land.
7.
‘Come up, come up, my eldest son,
And look o’er yon sea-strand,
And see your father’s new-come bride,
Before she come to land.’
8.
‘Come down, come down, my mother dear,
Come frae the castle wa’!
I fear, if langer ye stand there,
Ye’ll let yoursell down fa’.’
9.
And she gaed down, and farther down,
Her love’s ship for to see,
And the topmast and the mainmast
Shone like the silver free.
10.
And she’s gane down, and farther down,
The bride’s ship to behold,
And the topmast and the mainmast
They shone just like the gold.
11.
She’s taen her seven sons in her hand,
I wot she didna fail;
She met Lord Thomas and his bride,
As they came o’er the dale.
12.
‘You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas,
You’re welcome to your land;
You’re welcome with your fair ladye,
That you lead by the hand.
13.
‘You’re welcome to your ha’s, ladye,
You’re welcome to your bowers;
You’re welcome to your hame, ladye,
For a’ that’s here is yours.’
14.
‘I thank thee, Annie, I thank thee, Annie,
Sae dearly as I thank thee;
You’re the likest to my sister Annie,
That ever I did see.
15.
15.3‘scoup,’ fly, hasten.
‘There came a knight out o’er the sea,
And steal’d my sister away;
The shame scoup in his company,
And land where’er he gae!’
16.
She hang ae napkin at the door,
Another in the ha’,
And a’ to wipe the trickling tears,
Sae fast as they did fa’.
17.
17.4‘had’ = haud, hold.
And aye she served the long tables,
With white bread and with wine;
And aye she drank the wan water,
To had her colour fine.
18.
And aye she served the lang tables,
With white bread and with brown;
And ay she turned her round about
Sae fast the tears fell down.
19.
And he’s taen down the silk napkin,
Hung on a silver pin,
And aye he wipes the tear trickling
A’ down her cheek and chin.
20.
And aye he turned him round about,
And smil’d amang his men;
Says, ‘Like ye best the old ladye,
Or her that’s new come hame?’
21.
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,
And a’ men bound to bed,
Lord Thomas and his new-come bride
To their chamber they were gaed.
22.
22.1‘forbye,’ apart.
Annie made her bed a little forbye,
To hear what they might say;
‘And ever alas,’ Fair Annie cried,
‘That I should see this day!
23.
‘Gin my seven sons were seven young rats
Running on the castle wa’,
And I were a gray cat mysell,
I soon would worry them a’.
24.
24.2‘lilly lee,’ lovely lea.
‘Gin my seven sons were seven young hares,
Running o’er yon lilly lee,
And I were a grew hound mysell,
Soon worried they a’ should be.’
25.
And wae and sad Fair Annie sat,
And drearie was her sang,
And ever, as she sobb’d and grat,
‘Wae to the man that did the wrang!’
26.
‘My gown is on,’ said the new-come bride,
‘My shoes are on my feet,
And I will to Fair Annie’s chamber,
And see what gars her greet.
27.
‘What ails ye, what ails ye, Fair Annie,
That ye make sic a moan?
Has your wine barrels cast the girds,
Or is your white bread gone?
28.
‘O wha was’t was your father, Annie,
Or wha was’t was your mother?
And had ye ony sister, Annie,
Or had ye ony brother?’
29.
‘The Earl of Wemyss was my father,
The Countess of Wemyss my mother;
And a’ the folk about the house
To me were sister and brother.’
30.
30.4‘tyne,’ lose.
‘If the Earl of Wemyss was your father,
I wot sae he was mine;
And it shall not be for lack o’ gowd
That ye your love sall tyne.
31.
‘For I have seven ships o’ mine ain,
A’ loaded to the brim,
And I will gie them a’ to thee,
Wi’ four to thine eldest son:
But thanks to a’ the powers in heaven
That I gae maiden hame!’
The Textis given from Motherwell’sMinstrelsy, earlier versions being only fragmentary.
The Storyhas a close parallel in a Danish ballad; and another, popular all over Germany, is a variation of the same theme, but in place of the mother’s final doom being merely mentioned, in the German ballad she is actually carried away by the devil.
In a small group of ballads, the penknife appears to be the ideal weapon for murder or suicide. See theTwa Brothersand theBonny Hind.
1.Sheleaned her back unto a thorn;Three, three, and three by threeAnd there she has her two babes born.Three, three, and thirty-three.2.She took frae ’bout her ribbon-belt,And there she bound them hand and foot.3.She has ta’en out her wee pen-knife,And there she ended baith their life.4.She has howked a hole baith deep and wide,She has put them in baith side by side.5.She has covered them o’er wi’ a marble stane,Thinking she would gang maiden hame.6.As she was walking by her father’s castle wa’,She saw twa pretty babes playing at the ba’.7.‘O bonnie babes, gin ye were mine,I would dress you up in satin fine.8.‘O I would dress you in the silk,And wash you ay in morning milk.’9.9.2‘twine,’ coarse cloth;i.e.shroud.‘O cruel mother, we were thine,And thou made us to wear the twine.10.‘O cursed mother, heaven’s high,And that’s where thou will ne’er win nigh.11.‘O cursed mother, hell is deep,And there thou’ll enter step by step.’
1.
Sheleaned her back unto a thorn;
Three, three, and three by three
And there she has her two babes born.
Three, three, and thirty-three.
2.
She took frae ’bout her ribbon-belt,
And there she bound them hand and foot.
3.
She has ta’en out her wee pen-knife,
And there she ended baith their life.
4.
She has howked a hole baith deep and wide,
She has put them in baith side by side.
5.
She has covered them o’er wi’ a marble stane,
Thinking she would gang maiden hame.
6.
As she was walking by her father’s castle wa’,
She saw twa pretty babes playing at the ba’.
7.
‘O bonnie babes, gin ye were mine,
I would dress you up in satin fine.
8.
‘O I would dress you in the silk,
And wash you ay in morning milk.’
9.
9.2‘twine,’ coarse cloth;i.e.shroud.
‘O cruel mother, we were thine,
And thou made us to wear the twine.
10.
‘O cursed mother, heaven’s high,
And that’s where thou will ne’er win nigh.
11.
‘O cursed mother, hell is deep,
And there thou’ll enter step by step.’
The Textis here given from the Percy Folio, with some emendations as suggested by Child.
The Story, if we omit the hard tests imposed on the maid’s affection, is widely popular in a series of Scandinavian ballads,—Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian; and Percy’s edition (in theReliques) was popularised in Germany by Bürger’s translation.
The disagreeable nature of the final insult (stt. 27-29), retained here only for the sake of fidelity to the original text, may be paralleled by the similarly sudden lapse of taste in theNut-Brown Maid. We can but hope—as indeed is probable—that the objectionable lines are in each case interpolated.
‘Child,’ as in ‘Child Roland,’ etc., is a title of courtesy = Knight.
1.Childe Wattersin his stable stoode,& stroaket his milke-white steede;To him came a ffaire young ladyeAs ere did weare womans weede.2.2.2‘see,’ protect. So constantly in this phrase.Saies, ‘Christ you saue, good Chyld Waters!’Sayes, ‘Christ you saue and see!My girdle of gold which was too longeIs now to short ffor mee.3.‘& all is with one chyld of yours,I ffeele sturre att my side:My gowne of greene, it is to strayght;Before it was to wide.’4.‘If the child be mine, faire Ellen,’ he sayd,‘Be mine, as you tell mee,Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,Take them your owne to bee.5.‘If the child be mine, ffaire Ellen,’ he said,‘Be mine, as you doe sweare,Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,& make that child your heyre.’6.Shee saies, ‘I had rather haue one kisse,Child Waters, of thy mouth,Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,That lyes by north & south.7.‘& I had rather haue a twinkling,Child Waters, of your eye,Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,To take them mine oune to bee!’8.‘To-morrow, Ellen, I must forth rydeSoe ffar into the north countrye;The ffairest lady that I can ffind,Ellen, must goe with mee.’‘& euer I pray you, Child Watters,Your ffootpage let me bee!’9.‘If you will my ffootpage be, Ellen,As you doe tell itt mee,Then you must cut your gownne of greeneAn inch aboue your knee.10.‘Soe must you doe your yellow lockesAnother inch aboue your eye;You must tell no man what is my name;My ffootpage then you shall bee.’11.All this long day Child Waters rode,Shee ran bare ffoote by his side;Yett was he neuer soe curteous a knight,To say, ‘Ellen, will you ryde?’12.But all this day Child Waters rode,She ran barffoote thorow the broome!Yett he was neuer soe curteous a knightAs to say, ‘Put on your shoone.’13.‘Ride softlye,’ shee said, ‘Child Watters:Why do you ryde soe ffast?The child, which is no mans but yours,My bodye itt will burst.’14.He sayes, ‘Sees thou yonder water, Ellen,That fflowes from banke to brim?’‘I trust to God, Child Waters,’ shee sayd,‘You will neuer see mee swime.’15.But when shee came to the waters side,Shee sayled to the chinne:‘Except the lord of heauen be my speed,Now must I learne to swime.’16.The salt waters bare vp Ellens clothes,Our Ladye bare vpp her chinne,& Child Waters was a woe man, good Lord,To ssee faire Ellen swime.17.& when shee ouer the water was,Shee then came to his knee:He said, ‘Come hither, ffaire Ellen,Loe yonder what I see!18.18.2‘yates,’ gates.18.3In each case the Folio gives ‘24’ for ‘four and twenty.’18.4‘wordlye make,’ worldly mate.‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?Of redd gold shine the yates;There’s four and twenty ffayre ladyes,The ffairest is my wordlye make.19.‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?Of redd gold shineth the tower;There is four and twenty ffaire ladyes,The fairest is my paramoure.’20.‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,That of redd gold shineth the yates;God giue good then of your selfe,& of your wordlye make!21.‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,That of redd gold shineth the tower;God giue good then of your selfe,And of your paramoure!’22.There were four and twenty ladyes,Were playing att the ball;& Ellen, was the ffairest ladye,Must bring his steed to the stall.23.There were four and twenty faire ladyesWas playing att the chesse;& Ellen, shee was the ffairest ladye,Must bring his horsse to grasse.24.& then bespake Child Waters sister,& these were the words said shee:‘You haue the prettyest ffootpage, brother,That ever I saw with mine eye;25.‘But that his belly it is soe bigg,His girdle goes wonderous hye;& euer I pray you, Child Waters,Let him go into the chamber with me.’26.26.6‘rich’ added by Percy.28.6‘For filinge,’ to save defiling.‘It is more meete for a litle ffootpage,That has run through mosse and mire,To take his supper vpon his knee& sitt downe by the kitchin fyer,Then to go into the chamber with any ladyeThat weares so [rich] attyre.’27.But when thé had supped euery one,To bedd they tooke the way;He sayd, ‘Come hither, my litle footpage,Hearken what I doe say!28.‘& goe thee downe into yonder towne,& low into the street;The ffarest ladye that thou can find,Hyer her in mine armes to sleepe,& take her vp in thine armes two,For filinge of her ffeete.’29.Ellen is gone into the towne,& low into the streete:The fairest ladye that shee cold findShe hyred in his armes to sleepe,& tooke her in her armes two,For filing of her ffeete.30.30.4‘say,’ essay, attempt.‘I pray you now, good Child Waters,That I may creepe in att your bedds feete,For there is noe place about this houseWhere I may say a sleepe.’31.31.1‘night.’ Child’s emendation. Percy read: ‘This done, the nighte drove on apace.’This [night] & itt droue on affterwardTill itt was neere the day:He sayd, ‘Rise vp, my litle ffoote page,& giue my steed corne & hay;& soe doe thou the good blacke oates,That he may carry me the better away.’32.32.3‘and’; Folioon.And vp then rose ffaire Ellen,& gave his steed corne & hay,& soe shee did and the good blacke oates,That he might carry him the better away.33.Shee layned her backe to the manger side,& greiuouslye did groane;& that beheard his mother deere,And heard her make her moane.34.Shee said, ‘Rise vp, thou Child Waters!I thinke thou art a cursed man;For yonder is a ghost in thy stable,That greiuously doth groane,Or else some woman laboures of child,Shee is soe woe begone!’35.But vp then rose Child Waters,& did on his shirt of silke;Then he put on his other clothesOn his body as white as milke.36.36.4‘monand,’ moaning.& when he came to the stable dore,Full still that hee did stand,That hee might heare now faire Ellen,How shee made her monand.37.Shee said, ‘Lullabye, my owne deere child!Lullabye, deere child, deere!I wold thy father were a king,Thy mother layd on a beere!’38.‘Peace now,’ he said, ‘good faire Ellen!& be of good cheere, I thee pray,& the bridall & the churching both,They shall bee vpon one day.’
1.
Childe Wattersin his stable stoode,
& stroaket his milke-white steede;
To him came a ffaire young ladye
As ere did weare womans weede.
2.
2.2‘see,’ protect. So constantly in this phrase.
Saies, ‘Christ you saue, good Chyld Waters!’
Sayes, ‘Christ you saue and see!
My girdle of gold which was too longe
Is now to short ffor mee.
3.
‘& all is with one chyld of yours,
I ffeele sturre att my side:
My gowne of greene, it is to strayght;
Before it was to wide.’
4.
‘If the child be mine, faire Ellen,’ he sayd,
‘Be mine, as you tell mee,
Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,
Take them your owne to bee.
5.
‘If the child be mine, ffaire Ellen,’ he said,
‘Be mine, as you doe sweare,
Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,
& make that child your heyre.’
6.
Shee saies, ‘I had rather haue one kisse,
Child Waters, of thy mouth,
Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,
That lyes by north & south.
7.
‘& I had rather haue a twinkling,
Child Waters, of your eye,
Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,
To take them mine oune to bee!’
8.
‘To-morrow, Ellen, I must forth ryde
Soe ffar into the north countrye;
The ffairest lady that I can ffind,
Ellen, must goe with mee.’
‘& euer I pray you, Child Watters,
Your ffootpage let me bee!’
9.
‘If you will my ffootpage be, Ellen,
As you doe tell itt mee,
Then you must cut your gownne of greene
An inch aboue your knee.
10.
‘Soe must you doe your yellow lockes
Another inch aboue your eye;
You must tell no man what is my name;
My ffootpage then you shall bee.’
11.
All this long day Child Waters rode,
Shee ran bare ffoote by his side;
Yett was he neuer soe curteous a knight,
To say, ‘Ellen, will you ryde?’
12.
But all this day Child Waters rode,
She ran barffoote thorow the broome!
Yett he was neuer soe curteous a knight
As to say, ‘Put on your shoone.’
13.
‘Ride softlye,’ shee said, ‘Child Watters:
Why do you ryde soe ffast?
The child, which is no mans but yours,
My bodye itt will burst.’
14.
He sayes, ‘Sees thou yonder water, Ellen,
That fflowes from banke to brim?’
‘I trust to God, Child Waters,’ shee sayd,
‘You will neuer see mee swime.’
15.
But when shee came to the waters side,
Shee sayled to the chinne:
‘Except the lord of heauen be my speed,
Now must I learne to swime.’
16.
The salt waters bare vp Ellens clothes,
Our Ladye bare vpp her chinne,
& Child Waters was a woe man, good Lord,
To ssee faire Ellen swime.
17.
& when shee ouer the water was,
Shee then came to his knee:
He said, ‘Come hither, ffaire Ellen,
Loe yonder what I see!
18.
18.2‘yates,’ gates.
18.3In each case the Folio gives ‘24’ for ‘four and twenty.’
18.4‘wordlye make,’ worldly mate.
‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd gold shine the yates;
There’s four and twenty ffayre ladyes,
The ffairest is my wordlye make.
19.
‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd gold shineth the tower;
There is four and twenty ffaire ladyes,
The fairest is my paramoure.’
20.
‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,
That of redd gold shineth the yates;
God giue good then of your selfe,
& of your wordlye make!
21.
‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,
That of redd gold shineth the tower;
God giue good then of your selfe,
And of your paramoure!’
22.
There were four and twenty ladyes,
Were playing att the ball;
& Ellen, was the ffairest ladye,
Must bring his steed to the stall.
23.
There were four and twenty faire ladyes
Was playing att the chesse;
& Ellen, shee was the ffairest ladye,
Must bring his horsse to grasse.
24.
& then bespake Child Waters sister,
& these were the words said shee:
‘You haue the prettyest ffootpage, brother,
That ever I saw with mine eye;
25.
‘But that his belly it is soe bigg,
His girdle goes wonderous hye;
& euer I pray you, Child Waters,
Let him go into the chamber with me.’
26.
26.6‘rich’ added by Percy.
28.6‘For filinge,’ to save defiling.
‘It is more meete for a litle ffootpage,
That has run through mosse and mire,
To take his supper vpon his knee
& sitt downe by the kitchin fyer,
Then to go into the chamber with any ladye
That weares so [rich] attyre.’
27.
But when thé had supped euery one,
To bedd they tooke the way;
He sayd, ‘Come hither, my litle footpage,
Hearken what I doe say!
28.
‘& goe thee downe into yonder towne,
& low into the street;
The ffarest ladye that thou can find,
Hyer her in mine armes to sleepe,
& take her vp in thine armes two,
For filinge of her ffeete.’
29.
Ellen is gone into the towne,
& low into the streete:
The fairest ladye that shee cold find
She hyred in his armes to sleepe,
& tooke her in her armes two,
For filing of her ffeete.
30.
30.4‘say,’ essay, attempt.
‘I pray you now, good Child Waters,
That I may creepe in att your bedds feete,
For there is noe place about this house
Where I may say a sleepe.’
31.
31.1‘night.’ Child’s emendation. Percy read: ‘This done, the nighte drove on apace.’
This [night] & itt droue on affterward
Till itt was neere the day:
He sayd, ‘Rise vp, my litle ffoote page,
& giue my steed corne & hay;
& soe doe thou the good blacke oates,
That he may carry me the better away.’
32.
32.3‘and’; Folioon.
And vp then rose ffaire Ellen,
& gave his steed corne & hay,
& soe shee did and the good blacke oates,
That he might carry him the better away.
33.
Shee layned her backe to the manger side,
& greiuouslye did groane;
& that beheard his mother deere,
And heard her make her moane.
34.
Shee said, ‘Rise vp, thou Child Waters!
I thinke thou art a cursed man;
For yonder is a ghost in thy stable,
That greiuously doth groane,
Or else some woman laboures of child,
Shee is soe woe begone!’
35.
But vp then rose Child Waters,
& did on his shirt of silke;
Then he put on his other clothes
On his body as white as milke.
36.
36.4‘monand,’ moaning.
& when he came to the stable dore,
Full still that hee did stand,
That hee might heare now faire Ellen,
How shee made her monand.
37.
Shee said, ‘Lullabye, my owne deere child!
Lullabye, deere child, deere!
I wold thy father were a king,
Thy mother layd on a beere!’
38.
‘Peace now,’ he said, ‘good faire Ellen!
& be of good cheere, I thee pray,
& the bridall & the churching both,
They shall bee vpon one day.’