THE CRUEL SISTER

THE CRUEL SISTER

Therewere two sisters sat in a bour,Binnorie, O Binnorie;There came a knight to be their wooer;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He courted the eldest with glove and ring,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He courted the eldest with broach and knife,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune his life;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The eldest she was vexed sair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sore envied her sister fair;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The eldest said to the youngest ane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;“Will ye go and see your father’s ships come in?”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.She’s ta’en her by the lily hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And led her down to the river strand;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The youngest stude upon a stane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The eldest came and pushed her in;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.She took her by the middle sma’,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And dash’d her bonny back to the jaw;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, sister, reach your hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And ye shall be heir of half my land.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, I’ll not reach my hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And I’ll be heir of all your land;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Shame fa’ the hand that I should take,Binnorie, O Binnorie;It’s twin’d me, and my world’s make.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, reach me but your glove,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sweet William shall be your love.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove!Binnorie, O Binnorie:And sweet William shall better be my love,By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Garr’d me gang maiden evermair.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Until she cam to the miller’s dam;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O father, father, draw your dam!Binnorie, O Binnorie;There’s either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The miller hasted and drew his dam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there he found a drown’d woman;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.You could not see her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.You could na see her middle sma’.Binnorie, O Binnorie;Her gowden girdle was sae bra’;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.A famous harper passing by,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The sweet pale face he chanced to spy;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.And when he looked that lady on,Binnorie, O Binnorie;He sigh’d and made a heavy moan;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He made a harp of her breast-bone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The strings he framed of her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose notes made sad the listening ear;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He brought it to her father’s hall,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there was the court assembled all;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He laid this harp upon a stone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And straight it began to play alone!By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O yonder sits my father, the king,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And yonder sits my mother, the queen;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“And yonder stands my brother Hugh,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And by him my William, sweet and true.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.But the last tune that the harp play’d then,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Was—“Woe to my sister, false Helen!”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Therewere two sisters sat in a bour,Binnorie, O Binnorie;There came a knight to be their wooer;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He courted the eldest with glove and ring,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He courted the eldest with broach and knife,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune his life;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The eldest she was vexed sair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sore envied her sister fair;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The eldest said to the youngest ane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;“Will ye go and see your father’s ships come in?”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.She’s ta’en her by the lily hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And led her down to the river strand;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The youngest stude upon a stane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The eldest came and pushed her in;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.She took her by the middle sma’,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And dash’d her bonny back to the jaw;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, sister, reach your hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And ye shall be heir of half my land.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, I’ll not reach my hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And I’ll be heir of all your land;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Shame fa’ the hand that I should take,Binnorie, O Binnorie;It’s twin’d me, and my world’s make.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O sister, reach me but your glove,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sweet William shall be your love.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove!Binnorie, O Binnorie:And sweet William shall better be my love,By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Garr’d me gang maiden evermair.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Until she cam to the miller’s dam;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O father, father, draw your dam!Binnorie, O Binnorie;There’s either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The miller hasted and drew his dam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there he found a drown’d woman;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.You could not see her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.You could na see her middle sma’.Binnorie, O Binnorie;Her gowden girdle was sae bra’;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.A famous harper passing by,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The sweet pale face he chanced to spy;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.And when he looked that lady on,Binnorie, O Binnorie;He sigh’d and made a heavy moan;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He made a harp of her breast-bone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.The strings he framed of her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose notes made sad the listening ear;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He brought it to her father’s hall,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there was the court assembled all;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.He laid this harp upon a stone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And straight it began to play alone!By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“O yonder sits my father, the king,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And yonder sits my mother, the queen;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.“And yonder stands my brother Hugh,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And by him my William, sweet and true.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.But the last tune that the harp play’d then,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Was—“Woe to my sister, false Helen!”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Therewere two sisters sat in a bour,Binnorie, O Binnorie;There came a knight to be their wooer;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Therewere two sisters sat in a bour,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

There came a knight to be their wooer;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with glove and ring,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with glove and ring,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with broach and knife,Binnorie, O Binnorie;But he lo’ed the youngest abune his life;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with broach and knife,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

But he lo’ed the youngest abune his life;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexed sair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sore envied her sister fair;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexed sair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And sore envied her sister fair;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest said to the youngest ane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;“Will ye go and see your father’s ships come in?”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest said to the youngest ane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

“Will ye go and see your father’s ships come in?”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

She’s ta’en her by the lily hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And led her down to the river strand;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

She’s ta’en her by the lily hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And led her down to the river strand;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The youngest stude upon a stane,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The eldest came and pushed her in;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The youngest stude upon a stane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

The eldest came and pushed her in;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

She took her by the middle sma’,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And dash’d her bonny back to the jaw;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

She took her by the middle sma’,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And dash’d her bonny back to the jaw;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, sister, reach your hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And ye shall be heir of half my land.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, sister, reach your hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And ye shall be heir of half my land.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, I’ll not reach my hand,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And I’ll be heir of all your land;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, I’ll not reach my hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And I’ll be heir of all your land;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Shame fa’ the hand that I should take,Binnorie, O Binnorie;It’s twin’d me, and my world’s make.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Shame fa’ the hand that I should take,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

It’s twin’d me, and my world’s make.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, reach me but your glove,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And sweet William shall be your love.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O sister, reach me but your glove,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And sweet William shall be your love.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove!Binnorie, O Binnorie:And sweet William shall better be my love,By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove!

Binnorie, O Binnorie:

And sweet William shall better be my love,

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Garr’d me gang maiden evermair.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Garr’d me gang maiden evermair.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Until she cam to the miller’s dam;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Until she cam to the miller’s dam;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O father, father, draw your dam!Binnorie, O Binnorie;There’s either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O father, father, draw your dam!

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

There’s either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The miller hasted and drew his dam,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there he found a drown’d woman;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The miller hasted and drew his dam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And there he found a drown’d woman;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could not see her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could not see her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could na see her middle sma’.Binnorie, O Binnorie;Her gowden girdle was sae bra’;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could na see her middle sma’.

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Her gowden girdle was sae bra’;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

A famous harper passing by,Binnorie, O Binnorie;The sweet pale face he chanced to spy;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

A famous harper passing by,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

The sweet pale face he chanced to spy;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

And when he looked that lady on,Binnorie, O Binnorie;He sigh’d and made a heavy moan;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

And when he looked that lady on,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

He sigh’d and made a heavy moan;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He made a harp of her breast-bone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He made a harp of her breast-bone,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The strings he framed of her yellow hair,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Whose notes made sad the listening ear;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The strings he framed of her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Whose notes made sad the listening ear;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He brought it to her father’s hall,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And there was the court assembled all;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He brought it to her father’s hall,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And there was the court assembled all;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He laid this harp upon a stone,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And straight it began to play alone!By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He laid this harp upon a stone,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And straight it began to play alone!

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O yonder sits my father, the king,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And yonder sits my mother, the queen;By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“O yonder sits my father, the king,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And yonder sits my mother, the queen;

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“And yonder stands my brother Hugh,Binnorie, O Binnorie;And by him my William, sweet and true.”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

“And yonder stands my brother Hugh,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

And by him my William, sweet and true.”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

But the last tune that the harp play’d then,Binnorie, O Binnorie;Was—“Woe to my sister, false Helen!”—By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

But the last tune that the harp play’d then,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;

Was—“Woe to my sister, false Helen!”—

By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Back to IndexNext