"O come along wi' me, brother,Now come along wi' me;And we'll gae seek our sister Maisry,Into the water o' Dee."The eldest brother he stepped in,5He stepped to the knee;Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,Says, "This water's nae for me."The second brother he stepped in,He stepped to the quit;10Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,Says, "This water's wond'rous deep."When the third brother stepped in,He stepped to the chin;Out he got, and forward wade,15For fear o' drowning him.The youngest brother he stepped in,Took 's sister by the hand;Said, "Here she is, my sister Maisry,Wi' the hinny draps on her chin.20"O if I were in some bonny ship,And in some strange countrie,For to find out some conjurer,To gar Maisry speak to me!"Then out it speaks an auld woman,25As she was passing by;"Ask of your sister what you want,And she will speak to thee.""O sister, tell me who is the man,That did your body win?30And who is the wretch, tell me, likewise,That threw you in the lin?""O Bondsey was the only manThat did my body win;And likewise Bondsey was the man35That threw me in the lin.""O will we Bondsey head, sister?Or will we Bondsey hang?Or will we set him at our bow end,Lat arrows at him gang?"40"Ye winna Bondsey head, brothers,Nor will ye Bondsey hang;But ye'll take out his twa grey e'en,Make Bondsey blind to gang."Ye'll put to the gate a chain o' gold,45A rose garland gar make;And ye'll put that in Bondsey's head,A' for your sister's sake."
"O come along wi' me, brother,Now come along wi' me;And we'll gae seek our sister Maisry,Into the water o' Dee."
The eldest brother he stepped in,5He stepped to the knee;Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,Says, "This water's nae for me."
The second brother he stepped in,He stepped to the quit;10Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,Says, "This water's wond'rous deep."
When the third brother stepped in,He stepped to the chin;Out he got, and forward wade,15For fear o' drowning him.
The youngest brother he stepped in,Took 's sister by the hand;Said, "Here she is, my sister Maisry,Wi' the hinny draps on her chin.20
"O if I were in some bonny ship,And in some strange countrie,For to find out some conjurer,To gar Maisry speak to me!"
Then out it speaks an auld woman,25As she was passing by;"Ask of your sister what you want,And she will speak to thee."
"O sister, tell me who is the man,That did your body win?30And who is the wretch, tell me, likewise,That threw you in the lin?"
"O Bondsey was the only manThat did my body win;And likewise Bondsey was the man35That threw me in the lin."
"O will we Bondsey head, sister?Or will we Bondsey hang?Or will we set him at our bow end,Lat arrows at him gang?"40
"Ye winna Bondsey head, brothers,Nor will ye Bondsey hang;But ye'll take out his twa grey e'en,Make Bondsey blind to gang.
"Ye'll put to the gate a chain o' gold,45A rose garland gar make;And ye'll put that in Bondsey's head,A' for your sister's sake."
From the Percy Society Publications, xvii. 71. The same in Buchan, ii. 206. The ballad is given in Sharpe'sBallad Book, under the title ofDysmal, and by Aytoun,Ballads of Scotland, 2d ed., ii. 173, under that ofLady Daisy. All these names are corruptions of Ghismonda, on whose well-known story (Decamerone, iv. 1, 9) the present is founded.—This piece and the next might better have been inserted at p.347, as a part of the Appendix to Book III.
There was a king, an' a curious king,An' a king o' royal fame;He had ae dochter, he had never mair,Ladye Diamond was her name.She's fa'en into shame, an' lost her gude name,5An' wrought her parents 'noy;An' a' for her layen her luve so low,On her father's kitchen boy.Ae nicht as she lay on her bed,Just thinkin' to get rest,10Up it came her old father,Just like a wanderin' ghaist."Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,"Rise up, put on your goun;Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,15"For I fear ye gae too roun'.""Too roun I gae, yet blame me nae;Ye'll cause me na to shame;For better luve I that bonnie boyThan a' your weel-bred men."20The king's ca'd up his wa'-wight men,That he paid meat an' fee:"Bring here to me that bonnie boy,An' we'll smore him right quietlie."Up hae they ta'en that bonnie boy,25Put him 'tween twa feather beds;Naethin' was dane, nor naethin' said,Till that bonnie bonnie boy was dead.The king's ta'en out a braid braid sword,An' streak'd it on a strae;30An' thro' an' thro' that bonnie boy's heartHe's gart cauld iron gae.Out has he ta'en his poor bluidie heart,Set it in a tasse o' gowd,And set it before ladye Diamonds face,35Said "Fair ladye, behold!"Up has she ta'en this poor bludie heart,An' holden it in her han';"Better luved I that bonnie bonnie boyThan a' my father's lan'."40Up has she ta'en his poor bludie heart,An' laid it at her head;The tears awa' frae her eyne did flee,An' ere midnicht she was dead.
There was a king, an' a curious king,An' a king o' royal fame;He had ae dochter, he had never mair,Ladye Diamond was her name.
She's fa'en into shame, an' lost her gude name,5An' wrought her parents 'noy;An' a' for her layen her luve so low,On her father's kitchen boy.
Ae nicht as she lay on her bed,Just thinkin' to get rest,10Up it came her old father,Just like a wanderin' ghaist.
"Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,"Rise up, put on your goun;Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,15"For I fear ye gae too roun'."
"Too roun I gae, yet blame me nae;Ye'll cause me na to shame;For better luve I that bonnie boyThan a' your weel-bred men."20
The king's ca'd up his wa'-wight men,That he paid meat an' fee:"Bring here to me that bonnie boy,An' we'll smore him right quietlie."
Up hae they ta'en that bonnie boy,25Put him 'tween twa feather beds;Naethin' was dane, nor naethin' said,Till that bonnie bonnie boy was dead.
The king's ta'en out a braid braid sword,An' streak'd it on a strae;30An' thro' an' thro' that bonnie boy's heartHe's gart cauld iron gae.
Out has he ta'en his poor bluidie heart,Set it in a tasse o' gowd,And set it before ladye Diamonds face,35Said "Fair ladye, behold!"
Up has she ta'en this poor bludie heart,An' holden it in her han';"Better luved I that bonnie bonnie boyThan a' my father's lan'."40
Up has she ta'en his poor bludie heart,An' laid it at her head;The tears awa' frae her eyne did flee,An' ere midnicht she was dead.
From Collier'sBook of Roxburghe Ballads, p. 202.
After a broadside "printed by P. Brooksby, at the Golden Bull in Westsmith-field, neer the Hospitall Gate." The first ten or twelve stanzas seem to be ancient.
"When will you marry me, William,And make me your wedded wife?Or take you your keen bright sword,And rid me out of my life.""Say no morethen so, lady,5Say you no more then so,For you shall unto the wild forrest,And amongst the buck and doe."Where thou shalt eat of the hips and haws,And the roots that are so sweet,10And thou shalt drink of the cold waterThat runs underneath your feet."Now had she not been in the wild forrestPassing three months and a day,But with hunger and cold she had her fill,15Till she was quite worn away.At last she saw a fair tyl'd house,And there she swore by the rood,That she would to that fair tyl'd house,There for to get her some food.20But when she came unto the gates,Aloud, aloud she cry'd,"An alms, an alms, my own sister!I ask you for no pride."Her sister call'd up her merry men all,25By one, by two, and by three,And bid them hunt away that wild doe,As far as e'er they could see.They hunted her o're hill and dale,And they hunted her so sore,30That they hunted her into the forrest,Where her sorrows grew more and more.She laid a stone all at her head,And another all at her feet,And down she lay between these two,35Till death had lull'd her asleep.When sweet Will came and stood at her head,And likewise stood at her feet,A thousand times he kiss'd her cold lips,Her body being fast asleep.40Yea, seaven times he stood at her feet,And seaven times at her head;A thousand times he shook her hand,Although her body was dead."Ah wretched me!" he loudly cry'd,45"What is it that I have done?O wou'd to the powers above I'de dy'd,When thus I left her alone!"Come, come, you gentle red-breast now,And prepare for us a tomb,50Whilst unto cruel Death I bow,And sing like a swan my doom."Why could I ever cruel beUnto so fair a creature;Alas! she dy'd for love of me,55The loveliest she in nature!"For me she left her home so fairTo wander in this wild grove,And there with sighs and pensive careShe ended her life for love.60"O constancy, in her thou'rt lost!Now let women boast no more;She's fled unto the Elizian coast,And with her carry'd the store."O break, my heart, with sorrow fill'd,65Come, swell, you strong tides of grief!You that my dear love have kill'd,Come, yield in death to me relief."Cruel her sister, was't for meThat to her she was unkind?70Her husband I will never be,But with this my love be joyn'd."Grim Death shall tye the marriage bands,Which jealousie shan't divide;Together shall tye our cold hands,75Whilst here we lye side by side."Witness, ye groves, and chrystal streams,How faithless I late have been;But do repent with dying leavesOf that my ungrateful sin;80"And wish a thousand times that IHad been but to her more kind,And not have let a virgin dye,Whose equal there's none can find."Now heaps of sorrow press my soul;85Now, now 'tis she takes her way;I come, my love, without controule,Nor from thee will longer stay."With that he fetch'd a heavy groan,Which rent his tender breast,90And then by her he laid him down,When as Death did give him rest.Whilst mournful birds, with leavy bows,To them a kind burial gave,And warbled out their love-sick vows,95Whilst they both slept in their grave.
"When will you marry me, William,And make me your wedded wife?Or take you your keen bright sword,And rid me out of my life."
"Say no morethen so, lady,5Say you no more then so,For you shall unto the wild forrest,And amongst the buck and doe.
"Where thou shalt eat of the hips and haws,And the roots that are so sweet,10And thou shalt drink of the cold waterThat runs underneath your feet."
Now had she not been in the wild forrestPassing three months and a day,But with hunger and cold she had her fill,15Till she was quite worn away.
At last she saw a fair tyl'd house,And there she swore by the rood,That she would to that fair tyl'd house,There for to get her some food.20
But when she came unto the gates,Aloud, aloud she cry'd,"An alms, an alms, my own sister!I ask you for no pride."
Her sister call'd up her merry men all,25By one, by two, and by three,And bid them hunt away that wild doe,As far as e'er they could see.
They hunted her o're hill and dale,And they hunted her so sore,30That they hunted her into the forrest,Where her sorrows grew more and more.
She laid a stone all at her head,And another all at her feet,And down she lay between these two,35Till death had lull'd her asleep.
When sweet Will came and stood at her head,And likewise stood at her feet,A thousand times he kiss'd her cold lips,Her body being fast asleep.40
Yea, seaven times he stood at her feet,And seaven times at her head;A thousand times he shook her hand,Although her body was dead.
"Ah wretched me!" he loudly cry'd,45"What is it that I have done?O wou'd to the powers above I'de dy'd,When thus I left her alone!
"Come, come, you gentle red-breast now,And prepare for us a tomb,50Whilst unto cruel Death I bow,And sing like a swan my doom.
"Why could I ever cruel beUnto so fair a creature;Alas! she dy'd for love of me,55The loveliest she in nature!
"For me she left her home so fairTo wander in this wild grove,And there with sighs and pensive careShe ended her life for love.60
"O constancy, in her thou'rt lost!Now let women boast no more;She's fled unto the Elizian coast,And with her carry'd the store.
"O break, my heart, with sorrow fill'd,65Come, swell, you strong tides of grief!You that my dear love have kill'd,Come, yield in death to me relief.
"Cruel her sister, was't for meThat to her she was unkind?70Her husband I will never be,But with this my love be joyn'd.
"Grim Death shall tye the marriage bands,Which jealousie shan't divide;Together shall tye our cold hands,75Whilst here we lye side by side.
"Witness, ye groves, and chrystal streams,How faithless I late have been;But do repent with dying leavesOf that my ungrateful sin;80
"And wish a thousand times that IHad been but to her more kind,And not have let a virgin dye,Whose equal there's none can find.
"Now heaps of sorrow press my soul;85Now, now 'tis she takes her way;I come, my love, without controule,Nor from thee will longer stay."
With that he fetch'd a heavy groan,Which rent his tender breast,90And then by her he laid him down,When as Death did give him rest.
Whilst mournful birds, with leavy bows,To them a kind burial gave,And warbled out their love-sick vows,95Whilst they both slept in their grave.
5, so then.
5, so then.
See p.114.
From Bell'sBallads of the Peasantry of England, p. 122.
This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that inHildebrand og Hilde(Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank here ascribed to the lady.
"Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand,Kongens sönn aff Engeland."
"Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand,Kongens sönn aff Engeland."
The "old Carl Hood" who gives the alarm in this ballad, is called in most of the Danish ballads "a rich earl"; in one a treacherous man, in another a young Carl, and in a third an old man; which together furnish the elements of his character here of a treacherous old Carl.
O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand?Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England,I' the brave nights so early.She was scarcely fifteen years that tide,When sae boldly she came to his bed-side."O Earl Brand, how fain wad I see5A pack of hounds let loose on the lea.""O lady fair, I have no steed but one,But thou shalt ride and I will run.""O Earl Brand, but my father has two,And thou shalt have the best of tho."10Now they have ridden o'er moss and moor,And they have met neither rich nor poor.Till at last they met with old Carl Hood,He's aye for ill, and never for good."Now, Earl Brand, an ye love me,15Slay this old carl, and gar him dee.""O lady fair, but that would be sair,To slay an auld carl that wears grey hair."My own lady fair, I'll not do that,I'll pay him his fee......."20"O where have ye ridden this lee lang day,And where have ye stown this fair lady away?""I have not ridden this lee lang day,Nor yet have I stown this lady away."For she is, I trow, my sick sister,25Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester.""If she's been sick, and nigh to dead,What makes her wear the ribbon so red?"If she's been sick, and like to die,What makes her wear the gold sae high?"30When came the carl to the lady's yett,He rudely, rudely rapped thereat."Now where is the lady of this hall?""She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball.""Ha, ha, ha! ye are all mista'en;35Ye may count your maidens owre again."I met her far beyond the lea,With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be."Her father of his best men armed fifteen,And they're ridden after them bidene.40The lady looked owre her left shoulder then;Says, "O Earl Brand, we are both of us ta'en.""If they come on me one by one,You may stand by till the fights be done."But if they come on me one and all,45You may stand by and see me fall."They came upon him one by one,Till fourteen battles he has won.And fourteen men he has them slain,Each after each upon the plain.50But the fifteenth man behind stole round,And dealt him a deep and deadly wound.Though he was wounded to the deid,He set his lady on her steed.They rode till they came to the river Doune,55And there they lighted to wash his wound."O Earl Brand, I see your heart's blood!""It's nothing but the glentand my scarlet hood."They rode till they came to his mother's yett,So faint and feebly he rapped thereat.60"O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon,And it's all for the sake of an English loon!""O say not so, my dearest mother,But marry her to my youngest brother."To a maiden true he'll give his hand,65To the king's daughter o' fair England."[To the king's daughter o' fair England,]Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand,"I' the brave nights so early.
O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand?Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England,I' the brave nights so early.
She was scarcely fifteen years that tide,When sae boldly she came to his bed-side.
"O Earl Brand, how fain wad I see5A pack of hounds let loose on the lea."
"O lady fair, I have no steed but one,But thou shalt ride and I will run."
"O Earl Brand, but my father has two,And thou shalt have the best of tho."10
Now they have ridden o'er moss and moor,And they have met neither rich nor poor.
Till at last they met with old Carl Hood,He's aye for ill, and never for good.
"Now, Earl Brand, an ye love me,15Slay this old carl, and gar him dee."
"O lady fair, but that would be sair,To slay an auld carl that wears grey hair.
"My own lady fair, I'll not do that,I'll pay him his fee......."20
"O where have ye ridden this lee lang day,And where have ye stown this fair lady away?"
"I have not ridden this lee lang day,Nor yet have I stown this lady away.
"For she is, I trow, my sick sister,25Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester."
"If she's been sick, and nigh to dead,What makes her wear the ribbon so red?
"If she's been sick, and like to die,What makes her wear the gold sae high?"30
When came the carl to the lady's yett,He rudely, rudely rapped thereat.
"Now where is the lady of this hall?""She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball."
"Ha, ha, ha! ye are all mista'en;35Ye may count your maidens owre again.
"I met her far beyond the lea,With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be."
Her father of his best men armed fifteen,And they're ridden after them bidene.40
The lady looked owre her left shoulder then;Says, "O Earl Brand, we are both of us ta'en."
"If they come on me one by one,You may stand by till the fights be done.
"But if they come on me one and all,45You may stand by and see me fall."
They came upon him one by one,Till fourteen battles he has won.
And fourteen men he has them slain,Each after each upon the plain.50
But the fifteenth man behind stole round,And dealt him a deep and deadly wound.
Though he was wounded to the deid,He set his lady on her steed.
They rode till they came to the river Doune,55And there they lighted to wash his wound.
"O Earl Brand, I see your heart's blood!""It's nothing but the glentand my scarlet hood."
They rode till they came to his mother's yett,So faint and feebly he rapped thereat.60
"O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon,And it's all for the sake of an English loon!"
"O say not so, my dearest mother,But marry her to my youngest brother.
"To a maiden true he'll give his hand,65To the king's daughter o' fair England.
"[To the king's daughter o' fair England,]Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand,"I' the brave nights so early.
58. Qy.?ofmy scarlet hood.
58. Qy.?ofmy scarlet hood.
FromCanti Popolari Inediti Umbri, Piceni, Piemontesi, Latini, raccolti e illustrati daOreste Marcoaldi. Genova, 1855. p. 167.—From Alessandria.
"Ohvarda ben, Munfrenna,1Oh vardaqul castè:2I'è trentatrèfantenni3Ch' a j' homenaji me.4I m' hannegàl' amure,5La testa a j' ho "tajè.6"Ch' u 'mdigga lü, SiorConte;7Ch' u 'm lassa laso' spà."8"Oh dimì ti, Monfrenna,9Cosa ch' a 't navoi fa'?"10"A voitajè'na frasca,11Per ombra al me'cavà."12Lesta con laspadenna13Al cor a j' ha passà.14"Va là, va là, Sior Conte,15Va là 'nte queiboscon;16Lespennie li serpenti17Sarantoicompagnon."18
"Ohvarda ben, Munfrenna,1Oh vardaqul castè:2I'è trentatrèfantenni3Ch' a j' homenaji me.4I m' hannegàl' amure,5La testa a j' ho "tajè.6
"Ch' u 'mdigga lü, SiorConte;7Ch' u 'm lassa laso' spà."8"Oh dimì ti, Monfrenna,9Cosa ch' a 't navoi fa'?"10"A voitajè'na frasca,11Per ombra al me'cavà."12Lesta con laspadenna13Al cor a j' ha passà.14
"Va là, va là, Sior Conte,15Va là 'nte queiboscon;16Lespennie li serpenti17Sarantoicompagnon."18
1guarda ben, Monferina.2quel castello.3fanciulle.4menate io.5negato.6tagliato.7dica lei, signor.8sua spada.10vuoi fare.11tagliare.12cavallo.13spadina.16(boscon) cespugli.17spine.18tuoi.
1guarda ben, Monferina.
2quel castello.
3fanciulle.
4menate io.
5negato.
6tagliato.
7dica lei, signor.
8sua spada.
10vuoi fare.
11tagliare.
12cavallo.
13spadina.
16(boscon) cespugli.
17spine.
18tuoi.
☞ Figures placed after words denote the pages in which they occur.