33KEMPY KAY

1Lat never a man a wooing wendThat lacketh thingis three;A routh o gold, an open heart,Ay fu o charity.2As this I speak of King Henry,For he lay burd-alone;An he's doen him to a jelly hunt's ha,Was seven miles frae a town.3He chas'd the deer now him before,An the roe down by the den,Till the fattest buck in a' the flockKing Henry he has slain.4O he has doen him to his ha,To make him beerly cheer;An in it came a griesly ghost,Steed stappin i the fleer.5Her head hat the reef-tree o the house,Her middle ye mot wel span;He's thrown to her his gay mantle,Says, 'Lady, hap your lingcan.'6Her teeth was a' like teather stakes,Her nose like club or mell;An I ken naething she 'peard to be,But the fiend that wons in hell.7'Some meat, some meat, ye King Henry,Some meat ye gie to me!''An what meat's in this house, lady,An what ha I to gie?''O ye do kill your berry-brown steed,An you bring him here to me.'8O whan he slew his berry-brown steed,Wow but his heart was sair!Shee eat him [a'] up, skin an bane,Left naething but hide an hair.9'Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,Mair meat ye gi to me!''An what meat's in this house, lady,An what ha I to gi?''O ye do kill your good gray-hounds,An ye bring them a' to me.'10O whan he slew his good gray-hounds,Wow but his heart was sair!She eat them a' up, skin an bane,Left naething but hide an hair.11'Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,Mair meat ye gi to me!''An what meat's i this house, lady,An what ha I to gi?''O ye do kill your gay gos-hawks,An ye bring them here to me.'12O whan he slew his gay gos-hawks,Wow but his heart was sair!She eat them a' up, skin an bane,Left naething but feathers bare.13'Some drink, some drink, now, King Henry,Some drink ye bring to me!''O what drink's i this house, lady,That you're nae welcome ti?''O ye sew up your horse's hide,An bring in a drink to me.'14And he's sewd up the bloody hide,A puncheon o wine put in;She drank it a' up at a waught,Left na ae drap ahin.15'A bed, a bed, now, King Henry,A bed you mak to me!For ye maun pu the heather green,An mak a bed to me.'16O pu'd has he the heather green,An made to her a bed,An up has he taen his gay mantle,An oer it has he spread.17'Tak aff your claiths, now, King Henry,An lye down by my side!''O God forbid,' says King Henry,'That ever the like betide;That ever the fiend that wons in hellShoud streak down by my side.'* * * * *18Whan night was gane, and day was come,An the sun shone throw the ha,The fairest lady that ever was seenLay atween him an the wa.19'O well is me!' says King Henry,'How lang'll this last wi me?'Then out it spake that fair lady,'Even till the day you dee.20'For I've met wi mony a gentle knightThat's gien me sic a fill,But never before wi a courteous knightThat ga me a' my will.'

1Lat never a man a wooing wendThat lacketh thingis three;A routh o gold, an open heart,Ay fu o charity.

2As this I speak of King Henry,For he lay burd-alone;An he's doen him to a jelly hunt's ha,Was seven miles frae a town.

3He chas'd the deer now him before,An the roe down by the den,Till the fattest buck in a' the flockKing Henry he has slain.

4O he has doen him to his ha,To make him beerly cheer;An in it came a griesly ghost,Steed stappin i the fleer.

5Her head hat the reef-tree o the house,Her middle ye mot wel span;He's thrown to her his gay mantle,Says, 'Lady, hap your lingcan.'

6Her teeth was a' like teather stakes,Her nose like club or mell;An I ken naething she 'peard to be,But the fiend that wons in hell.

7'Some meat, some meat, ye King Henry,Some meat ye gie to me!''An what meat's in this house, lady,An what ha I to gie?''O ye do kill your berry-brown steed,An you bring him here to me.'

8O whan he slew his berry-brown steed,Wow but his heart was sair!Shee eat him [a'] up, skin an bane,Left naething but hide an hair.

9'Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,Mair meat ye gi to me!''An what meat's in this house, lady,An what ha I to gi?''O ye do kill your good gray-hounds,An ye bring them a' to me.'

10O whan he slew his good gray-hounds,Wow but his heart was sair!She eat them a' up, skin an bane,Left naething but hide an hair.

11'Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,Mair meat ye gi to me!''An what meat's i this house, lady,An what ha I to gi?''O ye do kill your gay gos-hawks,An ye bring them here to me.'

12O whan he slew his gay gos-hawks,Wow but his heart was sair!She eat them a' up, skin an bane,Left naething but feathers bare.

13'Some drink, some drink, now, King Henry,Some drink ye bring to me!''O what drink's i this house, lady,That you're nae welcome ti?''O ye sew up your horse's hide,An bring in a drink to me.'

14And he's sewd up the bloody hide,A puncheon o wine put in;She drank it a' up at a waught,Left na ae drap ahin.

15'A bed, a bed, now, King Henry,A bed you mak to me!For ye maun pu the heather green,An mak a bed to me.'

16O pu'd has he the heather green,An made to her a bed,An up has he taen his gay mantle,An oer it has he spread.

17'Tak aff your claiths, now, King Henry,An lye down by my side!''O God forbid,' says King Henry,'That ever the like betide;That ever the fiend that wons in hellShoud streak down by my side.'

* * * * *

18Whan night was gane, and day was come,An the sun shone throw the ha,The fairest lady that ever was seenLay atween him an the wa.

19'O well is me!' says King Henry,'How lang'll this last wi me?'Then out it spake that fair lady,'Even till the day you dee.

20'For I've met wi mony a gentle knightThat's gien me sic a fill,But never before wi a courteous knightThat ga me a' my will.'

136. shew.191. will.

136. shew.

191. will.

1.The first stanza of the original of this copy, as cited by Anderson, is:

Let never a man a wooing wendThat lacketh things three,A routh of gold, and open heart,An fu o charity.

14. And fu o courtesey.21. And this was seen o.23. And he has taen him to a haunted hunt's ha.31. He's chaced the dun deer thro the wood.33. in a' the herd.

14. And fu o courtesey.

21. And this was seen o.

23. And he has taen him to a haunted hunt's ha.

31. He's chaced the dun deer thro the wood.

33. in a' the herd.

4.He's taen him to his hunting ha,For to make burly cheir;When loud the wind was heard to sound,And an earthquake rocked the floor.And darkness coverd a' the hall,Where they sat at their meat;The gray dogs, youling, left their food,And crept to Henrie's feet.And louder houled the rising windAnd burst the fastned door;And in there came a griesly ghost,Stood stamping on the floor.

4.He's taen him to his hunting ha,For to make burly cheir;When loud the wind was heard to sound,And an earthquake rocked the floor.

And darkness coverd a' the hall,Where they sat at their meat;The gray dogs, youling, left their food,And crept to Henrie's feet.

And louder houled the rising windAnd burst the fastned door;And in there came a griesly ghost,Stood stamping on the floor.

The wind and darkness are not of Scott's invention, for nearly all that is not inais found in Lewis, too.

53,4.Each frighted huntsman fled the ha,And left the king alone.

74-6.That ye're nae wellcum tee?''O ye's gae kill your berry brown steed,And serve him up to me.'

94. That ye're na wellcum tee?103. a' up, ane by ane.

94. That ye're na wellcum tee?

103. a' up, ane by ane.

114-6.That I hae left to gie?''O ye do fell your gay goss-hawks,And bring them a' to me.'

121. he felled.123. bane by bane.142. And put in a pipe of wine.143. up a' at ae draught.144. drap therein.15.Between2and3:

121. he felled.

123. bane by bane.

142. And put in a pipe of wine.

143. up a' at ae draught.

144. drap therein.

15.Between2and3:

And what's the bed i this house, ladye,That ye're nae wellcum tee?

153. O ye maun pu the green heather.

171,2.Now swear, now swear, ye king Henrie,To take me for your bride.

181. When day was come, and night was gane.193. And out and spak that ladye fair.

181. When day was come, and night was gane.

193. And out and spak that ladye fair.

20.For I was witched to a ghastly shape,All by my stepdame's skill,Till I should meet wi a courteous knightWad gie me a' my will.

FOOTNOTES:[293]The like by a carlin at a birth-feast, 'Kællingen til Barsel,' Kristensen, II, 341, No 100, Landstad, p. 666, No 96; known also in Sweden. Again, by a fighting friar, 'Den stridbare Munken,' Arwidsson, I, 417. 'Greve Genselin' is translated by Prior, I, 173, and by Jamieson, Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 310; 'Tord af Havsgaard' by Prior, I, 3.

[293]The like by a carlin at a birth-feast, 'Kællingen til Barsel,' Kristensen, II, 341, No 100, Landstad, p. 666, No 96; known also in Sweden. Again, by a fighting friar, 'Den stridbare Munken,' Arwidsson, I, 417. 'Greve Genselin' is translated by Prior, I, 173, and by Jamieson, Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 310; 'Tord af Havsgaard' by Prior, I, 3.

A.'Kempy Kay.' Pitcairn's MSS, II, 125. Scotish Ballads and Songs [James Maidment], Edinb. 1859, p. 85; Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 81.B.'Kempy Kaye.'a.Kinloch MSS, I, 65.b.Kinloch's Ballad Book, p. 41.C.'Kempy Kay,' or 'Kempy Kane,' Motherwell's MS., p. 193. The first stanza in Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiv, No XXX.D.'Kempy Kay,' Motherwell's MS., p. 192.E.'Drowsy Lane.' Campbell MSS, II, 122.F.'Bar aye your bower door weel.' Campbell MSS, II, 101.G.'King Knapperty.' Buchan's MSS, I, 133.

A.'Kempy Kay.' Pitcairn's MSS, II, 125. Scotish Ballads and Songs [James Maidment], Edinb. 1859, p. 85; Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 81.

B.'Kempy Kaye.'a.Kinloch MSS, I, 65.b.Kinloch's Ballad Book, p. 41.

C.'Kempy Kay,' or 'Kempy Kane,' Motherwell's MS., p. 193. The first stanza in Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiv, No XXX.

D.'Kempy Kay,' Motherwell's MS., p. 192.

E.'Drowsy Lane.' Campbell MSS, II, 122.

F.'Bar aye your bower door weel.' Campbell MSS, II, 101.

G.'King Knapperty.' Buchan's MSS, I, 133.

All these versions of 'Kempy Kay' are known, or may be presumed, to have been taken down within the first three decades of this century;Ais traced as many years back into the last. The fourth stanza ofAclearly belongs to some other ballad. BothAandBappear to have undergone some slight changes when published by Sharpe and Kinloch respectively. Some verses from this ballad have been adopted into one form of a still more unpleasant piece in the Campbell collection, concerning a wife who was "the queen of all sluts."[294]

Sharpe remarks: "This song my learned readers will perceive to be of Scandinavian origin, and that the wooer's name was probably suggested by Sir Kaye's of the Round Table.... The description of Bengoleer's daughter resembles that of the enchanted damsel who appeared to courteous King Henrie." It is among possibilities that the ballad was an outgrowth from some form of the story of The Marriage of Sir Gawain, in the Percy version of which the "unseemly" lady is so rudely commented on and rejected by Kay. This unseemly lady, in The Wedding of Gawen and Dame Ragnell, and her counterpart in 'King Henry,' who is of superhuman height, show an extravagant voracity which recalls the giantess in 'Greve Genselin.' In 'Greve Genselin,' a burlesque form of an heroic ballad which is preserved in a pure shape in three Färöe versions (Grundtvig, IV, 737-42), there are many kemps invited to the wedding, and in a little dance which is had the smallest kemp is fifteen ells to [below] the knee, Grundtvig, No 16,A26,B29,C29. Kempy Kay has gigantic dimensions inA7,C9,E7: teeth like tether-stakes, a nose three [nine, five] feet long, three ells [nine yards] between his shoulders, a span between his eyne.[295]Of the bride it is said inA12 that her finger nails were like the teeth of a rake and her teeth like tether-stakes. This is not decisive; it is her ugliness, filthiness, and laziness that are made most of. We may assume that she would be in dimension and the shape of nature a match for the kemp, but she does not comport herself especially like a giantess.

If Kempy Kay be the original name of the wooer, Knapperty and Chickmakin might easily be derived from corrupt pronunciations like Kampeky, Kimpaky.

Pitcairn's MSS, II, 125, as taken down by Mr Pitcairn from the singing of his aunt, Mrs Gammell, who had learned it in the neighborhood of Kincaid, Stirlingshire, when a child, or about 1770. Scotish Ballads and Songs [James Maidment], Edinburgh, 1859, p. 35; Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 81.

1Kempy Kaye's a wooing gane,Far, far ayont the sea,And he has met with an auld, auld man,His gudefaythir to be.2'It's I'm coming to court your daughter dear,And some part of your gear:''And by my sooth,' quoth Bengoleer,'She'll sare a man a wear.3'My dochter she's a thrifty lass,She span seven year to me,And if it were weel counted up,Full three heire it would be.4'What's the matter wi you, my fair creature,You look so pale and wan?I'm sure you was once the fairest creatureThat ever the sun shined on.5'Gae scrape yoursel, and gae scart yoursel,And mak your brucket face clean,For the wooers are to be here to nighte,And your body's to be seen.'6Sae they scrapit her, and they scartit her,Like the face of an aussy pan;Syne in cam Kempy Kay himself,A clever and tall young man.7His teeth they were like tether-sticks,His nose was three fit lang,Between his shouthers was ells three,And tween his eyne a span.8He led his dochter by the hand,His dochter ben brought he:'O is she not the fairest lassThat's in great Christendye?'9Ilka hair intil her headWas like a heather-cowe,And ilka louse anunder itWas like a bruckit ewe.10She had tauchy teeth and kaily lips,And wide lugs, fou o hair;Her pouches fou o peasemeal-daigheA' hinging down her spare.11Ilka eye intil her headWas like a rotten plumbe,And down browed was the queyne,And sairly did she gloom.12Ilka nail upon her handWas like an iron rake,And ilka tooth intil her headWas like a tether-stake.* * * * *13She gied to him a gravat,O the auld horse's sheet,And he gied her a gay gold ring,O the auld couple-root.

1Kempy Kaye's a wooing gane,Far, far ayont the sea,And he has met with an auld, auld man,His gudefaythir to be.

2'It's I'm coming to court your daughter dear,And some part of your gear:''And by my sooth,' quoth Bengoleer,'She'll sare a man a wear.

3'My dochter she's a thrifty lass,She span seven year to me,And if it were weel counted up,Full three heire it would be.

4'What's the matter wi you, my fair creature,You look so pale and wan?I'm sure you was once the fairest creatureThat ever the sun shined on.

5'Gae scrape yoursel, and gae scart yoursel,And mak your brucket face clean,For the wooers are to be here to nighte,And your body's to be seen.'

6Sae they scrapit her, and they scartit her,Like the face of an aussy pan;Syne in cam Kempy Kay himself,A clever and tall young man.

7His teeth they were like tether-sticks,His nose was three fit lang,Between his shouthers was ells three,And tween his eyne a span.

8He led his dochter by the hand,His dochter ben brought he:'O is she not the fairest lassThat's in great Christendye?'

9Ilka hair intil her headWas like a heather-cowe,And ilka louse anunder itWas like a bruckit ewe.

10She had tauchy teeth and kaily lips,And wide lugs, fou o hair;Her pouches fou o peasemeal-daigheA' hinging down her spare.

11Ilka eye intil her headWas like a rotten plumbe,And down browed was the queyne,And sairly did she gloom.

12Ilka nail upon her handWas like an iron rake,And ilka tooth intil her headWas like a tether-stake.

* * * * *

13She gied to him a gravat,O the auld horse's sheet,And he gied her a gay gold ring,O the auld couple-root.

a.Kinloch MSS, I, 65.b.Kinloch's Ballad Book, p. 41. From the recitation of Mary Barr.

1Kempy Kaye is a wooing gane,Far ayont the sea,And there he met wi auld Goling,His gudefather to be, be,His gudefather to be.2'Whar are ye gaun, O Kempy Kaye,Whar are ye gaun sae sune?''O I am gaun to court a wife,And think na ye that's weel dune?'3'An ye be gaun to court a wife,As ye do tell to me,'T is ye sal hae my Fusome Fug,Your ae wife for to be.'4Whan auld Goling cam to the house,He lookit thro a hole,And there he saw the dirty drabJust whisking oure the coal.5'Rise up, rise up my Fusome Fug,And mak your foul face clean,For the brawest wooer that ere ye sawIs come develling doun the green.'6Up then rose the Fusome Fug,To mak her foul face clean;And aye she cursed her mitherShe had na water in.7She rampit out, and she rampit in,She rampit but and ben;The tittles and tattles that hang frae her tailWad muck an acre o land.8She had a neis upon her faceWas like an auld pat-fit;Atween her neis hot an her monWas inch thick deep wi dirt.9She had twa een intil her headWar like twa rotten plums;The heavy brows hung doun her face,And O I vow she glooms!10He gied to her a braw silk napkin,Was made o' an auld horse-brat:'I ne'er wore a silk napkin a' my life,But weel I wat Ise wear that.'11He gied to her a braw gowd ring,Was made frae an auld brass pan:'I neer wore a gowd ring in a' my life,But now I wat Ise wear ane.'12Whan thir twa lovers had met thegither,O kissing to get their fill,The slaver that hang atween their twa gabsWad hae tetherd a ten year auld bill.

1Kempy Kaye is a wooing gane,Far ayont the sea,And there he met wi auld Goling,His gudefather to be, be,His gudefather to be.

2'Whar are ye gaun, O Kempy Kaye,Whar are ye gaun sae sune?''O I am gaun to court a wife,And think na ye that's weel dune?'

3'An ye be gaun to court a wife,As ye do tell to me,'T is ye sal hae my Fusome Fug,Your ae wife for to be.'

4Whan auld Goling cam to the house,He lookit thro a hole,And there he saw the dirty drabJust whisking oure the coal.

5'Rise up, rise up my Fusome Fug,And mak your foul face clean,For the brawest wooer that ere ye sawIs come develling doun the green.'

6Up then rose the Fusome Fug,To mak her foul face clean;And aye she cursed her mitherShe had na water in.

7She rampit out, and she rampit in,She rampit but and ben;The tittles and tattles that hang frae her tailWad muck an acre o land.

8She had a neis upon her faceWas like an auld pat-fit;Atween her neis hot an her monWas inch thick deep wi dirt.

9She had twa een intil her headWar like twa rotten plums;The heavy brows hung doun her face,And O I vow she glooms!

10He gied to her a braw silk napkin,Was made o' an auld horse-brat:'I ne'er wore a silk napkin a' my life,But weel I wat Ise wear that.'

11He gied to her a braw gowd ring,Was made frae an auld brass pan:'I neer wore a gowd ring in a' my life,But now I wat Ise wear ane.'

12Whan thir twa lovers had met thegither,O kissing to get their fill,The slaver that hang atween their twa gabsWad hae tetherd a ten year auld bill.

Motherwell's MS., p. 193. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiv, No XXX, the first stanza.

1Kempy Kaye's a wooing gane,And far beyond the sea, a weeAnd there he met wi Drearylane,His gay gudefather to be. a wee2'Gude een, gude een,' quo Drearylane,'Gude een, gude een,' quo he, a wee'I've come your dochter's love to win,I kenna how it will do.' a wee3'My dochter she's a thrifty lass,She's spun this gay seven year,And if it come to gude guiding,It will be half a heer.'4'Rise up, rise up, ye dirty slut,And wash your foul face clean;The wooers will be here the nightThat suld been here yestreen.'5They took him ben to the fire en,And set him on a chair;He looked on the lass that he loved best,And thought she was wondrous fair.6The een that was in our bride's headWas like twa rotten plooms;She was a chaunler-chaftit quean,And O but she did gloom!7The skin that was on our bride's breastWas like a saffron bag,And aye her hand was at her neek,And riving up the scabs.8The hair that was on our bride's headWas like a heather-cow,And every louse that lookit outWas like a brockit ewe.9Betwixd Kempy's shouthers was three ells,His nose was nine feet lang,His teeth they were like tether sticks,Between his eyne a span.10So aye they kissed, and aye they clapped,I wat they kissed weel;The slaver that hang between their mouthsWad hae tethered a twa year auld bill.

1Kempy Kaye's a wooing gane,And far beyond the sea, a weeAnd there he met wi Drearylane,His gay gudefather to be. a wee

2'Gude een, gude een,' quo Drearylane,'Gude een, gude een,' quo he, a wee'I've come your dochter's love to win,I kenna how it will do.' a wee

3'My dochter she's a thrifty lass,She's spun this gay seven year,And if it come to gude guiding,It will be half a heer.'

4'Rise up, rise up, ye dirty slut,And wash your foul face clean;The wooers will be here the nightThat suld been here yestreen.'

5They took him ben to the fire en,And set him on a chair;He looked on the lass that he loved best,And thought she was wondrous fair.

6The een that was in our bride's headWas like twa rotten plooms;She was a chaunler-chaftit quean,And O but she did gloom!

7The skin that was on our bride's breastWas like a saffron bag,And aye her hand was at her neek,And riving up the scabs.

8The hair that was on our bride's headWas like a heather-cow,And every louse that lookit outWas like a brockit ewe.

9Betwixd Kempy's shouthers was three ells,His nose was nine feet lang,His teeth they were like tether sticks,Between his eyne a span.

10So aye they kissed, and aye they clapped,I wat they kissed weel;The slaver that hang between their mouthsWad hae tethered a twa year auld bill.

Motherwell's MS., p. 192.

* * * * *1The father came unto the door,And keeked thro the key-hole, a weeAnd there he saw his dochter Jean,Sitting on a coal. a wee2They scartit her, and scrapit her,Wi the hand o a rusty pan, a weeHer father he did all his bestFor to get her a man. a wee3She is to the stoups gane,There is nae water in;She's cursed the hands and ban'd the feetThat did na bring it in.4Out then spak her auld mither,In her bed whare she lay:'If there is nae water in the house,Gae harl her thro the lin.'5O she is to the taipy tapples gane,That stood for seven year,And there she washed her foul face clean,And dried it wi a huggar.6He's gien her a gay gold ring,Just like a cable-rope,And she's gien him a gay gravat,Made out o the tail o a sark.

* * * * *

1The father came unto the door,And keeked thro the key-hole, a weeAnd there he saw his dochter Jean,Sitting on a coal. a wee

2They scartit her, and scrapit her,Wi the hand o a rusty pan, a weeHer father he did all his bestFor to get her a man. a wee

3She is to the stoups gane,There is nae water in;She's cursed the hands and ban'd the feetThat did na bring it in.

4Out then spak her auld mither,In her bed whare she lay:'If there is nae water in the house,Gae harl her thro the lin.'

5O she is to the taipy tapples gane,That stood for seven year,And there she washed her foul face clean,And dried it wi a huggar.

6He's gien her a gay gold ring,Just like a cable-rope,And she's gien him a gay gravat,Made out o the tail o a sark.

Campbell MSS, II, 122.

1'Gud een, gud een,' says Chickmakin,'Ye're welcome here,' says Drowsy Lane;'I'm comd to court your daughter Jean,And marry her wi yer will, a wee.'2'My daughter Jean's a thrifty lass,She's spun these seven lang years to me,And gin she spin another seven,She'll munt a half an heir, a wee.'3Drowsy Lane, it's he's gane hame,And keekit through the hole, a weeAnd there he saw his daughter JeanA reeking oer the coal. a wee4'Get up, get up, ye dirty bitch,And wash yer foul face clean,For they are to be here the nightThat should hae been here yestreen.'5Up she rose, pat on her clothes,She's washen her foul face clean;She cursd the hands, she ban'd the feet,That wadna bring the water in.6She rubbit hersel, she scrubbit hersel,Wi the side of a rustit pan, a wee,And in a little came Chickmakin,A braw young lad indeed was he.7His teeth they were like tether-steeks,His nose was five feet lang;Between his shoulders was nine yards broad,And between his een a span.8Ilka hair into his headWas like a heather-cowe,And ilka louse that lookit outWas like a brookit ewe.9Thae twa kissd and thae twa clapt,And thae twa kissd their fill,And aye the slaver between them hangWad tetherd a ten-pund bull.10They twa kissd and they twa clapt,And they gaed to their bed, a wee,And at their head a knocking staneAnd at their feet a mell, a wee.11The auld wife she lay in her bed:'And gin ye'll do my bidding a wee,And gin ye'll do my bidding,' quoth she,'Yees whirl her oer the lea, a wee.'

1'Gud een, gud een,' says Chickmakin,'Ye're welcome here,' says Drowsy Lane;'I'm comd to court your daughter Jean,And marry her wi yer will, a wee.'

2'My daughter Jean's a thrifty lass,She's spun these seven lang years to me,And gin she spin another seven,She'll munt a half an heir, a wee.'

3Drowsy Lane, it's he's gane hame,And keekit through the hole, a weeAnd there he saw his daughter JeanA reeking oer the coal. a wee

4'Get up, get up, ye dirty bitch,And wash yer foul face clean,For they are to be here the nightThat should hae been here yestreen.'

5Up she rose, pat on her clothes,She's washen her foul face clean;She cursd the hands, she ban'd the feet,That wadna bring the water in.

6She rubbit hersel, she scrubbit hersel,Wi the side of a rustit pan, a wee,And in a little came Chickmakin,A braw young lad indeed was he.

7His teeth they were like tether-steeks,His nose was five feet lang;Between his shoulders was nine yards broad,And between his een a span.

8Ilka hair into his headWas like a heather-cowe,And ilka louse that lookit outWas like a brookit ewe.

9Thae twa kissd and thae twa clapt,And thae twa kissd their fill,And aye the slaver between them hangWad tetherd a ten-pund bull.

10They twa kissd and they twa clapt,And they gaed to their bed, a wee,And at their head a knocking staneAnd at their feet a mell, a wee.

11The auld wife she lay in her bed:'And gin ye'll do my bidding a wee,And gin ye'll do my bidding,' quoth she,'Yees whirl her oer the lea, a wee.'

Campbell MSS, II, 101.

1As I cam oer yon misty muir,And oer yon grass-green hill,There I saw a campy carleGoing to the mill.And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,And bar aye yer bower door weel.2I lookit in at her window,And in at her hove hole,And there I saw a fousome fag,Cowering oer a coal.3'Get up, get up, ye fousome fag,And make yer face fou clean;For the wooers will be here the night,And your body will be seen.'4He gave her a gay cravat,'T was of an auld horse-sheet;He gave her a gay goud ring,'T was of an auld tree root.5He laid his arms about her neck,They were like kipple-roots;And aye he kissd her wi his lips,They were like meller's hoops.6When they were laid in marriage bed,And covered oer wi fail,The knocking mell below their headsDid serve them wondrous weel.7Ilka pap into her breastsWas like a saffron bag,And aye his hand at her a..eWas tearing up the scabs.8Ilka hair into her headWas like a heather-cow,And ilka louse that lookit outWas like a brookit ewe.

1As I cam oer yon misty muir,And oer yon grass-green hill,There I saw a campy carleGoing to the mill.And bar aye yer bower door weel weel,And bar aye yer bower door weel.

2I lookit in at her window,And in at her hove hole,And there I saw a fousome fag,Cowering oer a coal.

3'Get up, get up, ye fousome fag,And make yer face fou clean;For the wooers will be here the night,And your body will be seen.'

4He gave her a gay cravat,'T was of an auld horse-sheet;He gave her a gay goud ring,'T was of an auld tree root.

5He laid his arms about her neck,They were like kipple-roots;And aye he kissd her wi his lips,They were like meller's hoops.

6When they were laid in marriage bed,And covered oer wi fail,The knocking mell below their headsDid serve them wondrous weel.

7Ilka pap into her breastsWas like a saffron bag,And aye his hand at her a..eWas tearing up the scabs.

8Ilka hair into her headWas like a heather-cow,And ilka louse that lookit outWas like a brookit ewe.

Buchan's MSS, I, 133.

1King Knapperty he's a hunting gane,Oer hills and mountains high, high, high,A gude pike-staff intill his hand,And dulgets anew forbye, I, I, I,And dulgets anew forbye.2Then he met in wi an auld woman,Was feeding her flocks near by, I, I, I:'I'm come a wooing to your daughter,And a very gude bargain am I, I, I.'3And she's awa to her wee hole house,Lookd in a wee chip hole,And there she saw her filthy wee flag,Was sitting athort the coal.4'Get up, get up, ye filthy foul flag,And make your foul face clean;There are wooers coming to the town,And your foul face mauna be seen.'5Then up she raise, an awa she gaes,And in at the back o the door,And there a pig o water she saw,'T was seven years auld an mair.6Aye she rubbed, an aye she scrubbed,To make her foul face clean,And aye she bannd the auld wife, her mither,For nae bringing clean water in.7King Knapperty he came in at the door,Stood even up in the floor;Altho that she had neer seen him before,She kent him to be her dear.8He has taen her in his arms twa,And kissd her, cheek and chin:'I neer was kissd afore in my life,But this night got mony ane.'9He has put his hand in his pocket,And he's taen out a ring:Says, 'Take ye that, my dearest dear,It is made o the brazen pan.'10She thankd him ance, she thankd him twice,She thankd him oer again:'I neer got a ring before in my life,But this night hae gotten ane.'11These lovers bed it was well made,And at their hearts' desire;These lovers bed it was well made,At the side o the kitchen fire.12The bolster that these lovers hadWas the mattock an the mell,And the covring that these lovers hadWas the clouted cloak an pale.13The draps that fell frae her twa eenWoud have gard a froth-mill gang,An [the] clunkerts that hung at their heelsWoud hae muckd an acre o land.14An ilka hair that was in their headWas like a heather-cow,And ilka tenant that it containdWas like a lintseed-bow.

1King Knapperty he's a hunting gane,Oer hills and mountains high, high, high,A gude pike-staff intill his hand,And dulgets anew forbye, I, I, I,And dulgets anew forbye.

2Then he met in wi an auld woman,Was feeding her flocks near by, I, I, I:'I'm come a wooing to your daughter,And a very gude bargain am I, I, I.'

3And she's awa to her wee hole house,Lookd in a wee chip hole,And there she saw her filthy wee flag,Was sitting athort the coal.

4'Get up, get up, ye filthy foul flag,And make your foul face clean;There are wooers coming to the town,And your foul face mauna be seen.'

5Then up she raise, an awa she gaes,And in at the back o the door,And there a pig o water she saw,'T was seven years auld an mair.

6Aye she rubbed, an aye she scrubbed,To make her foul face clean,And aye she bannd the auld wife, her mither,For nae bringing clean water in.

7King Knapperty he came in at the door,Stood even up in the floor;Altho that she had neer seen him before,She kent him to be her dear.

8He has taen her in his arms twa,And kissd her, cheek and chin:'I neer was kissd afore in my life,But this night got mony ane.'

9He has put his hand in his pocket,And he's taen out a ring:Says, 'Take ye that, my dearest dear,It is made o the brazen pan.'

10She thankd him ance, she thankd him twice,She thankd him oer again:'I neer got a ring before in my life,But this night hae gotten ane.'

11These lovers bed it was well made,And at their hearts' desire;These lovers bed it was well made,At the side o the kitchen fire.

12The bolster that these lovers hadWas the mattock an the mell,And the covring that these lovers hadWas the clouted cloak an pale.

13The draps that fell frae her twa eenWoud have gard a froth-mill gang,An [the] clunkerts that hung at their heelsWoud hae muckd an acre o land.

14An ilka hair that was in their headWas like a heather-cow,And ilka tenant that it containdWas like a lintseed-bow.

53,4.Var.

For Kempy Kay will be here the nightOr else the morn at een.

94.Var.Was like a lintseed bow.These variations are found in Sharpe's copy. The first seven stanzas are put in the order 1, 6, 7, 3, 2, 4, 5.21. I'm coming.34. Full ten wobs it would be.41,3. fair maiden, fairest maiden.52. bruchty.63. And in.74. Between his een.101.tauchtyis misprintedlauchty.104. War hinging.113. An down down.123.teeth, no doubt to indicate the pronunciation.

94.Var.Was like a lintseed bow.

These variations are found in Sharpe's copy. The first seven stanzas are put in the order 1, 6, 7, 3, 2, 4, 5.

21. I'm coming.

34. Full ten wobs it would be.

41,3. fair maiden, fairest maiden.

52. bruchty.

63. And in.

74. Between his een.

101.tauchtyis misprintedlauchty.

104. War hinging.

113. An down down.

123.teeth, no doubt to indicate the pronunciation.

B. a.

41. Whan Kempy Kaye.Other copies show that it must be the father, and not the wooer.63.ae, withayin the margin: qu.aye as?

41. Whan Kempy Kaye.Other copies show that it must be the father, and not the wooer.

63.ae, withayin the margin: qu.aye as?

The variations of theBallad Bookare apparently arbitrary.12. Far far.84. o dirt.After 9 follows:

The variations of theBallad Bookare apparently arbitrary.

12. Far far.

84. o dirt.

After 9 follows:

Ilka hair that was on her headWas like a heather cow,And ilka Iouse that lookit outWas like a lintseed bow.

a4succeeds, withKempy Kayeforauld Goling, and is necessarily transferred if the readingKempy Kayeis retained.

The order of the first five stanzas in the MS is 1, 2, 5, 4, 3.A weeis the burden after every second and fourth verse, and so withD.11,2.In Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiv, Noxxx,

The order of the first five stanzas in the MS is 1, 2, 5, 4, 3.

A weeis the burden after every second and fourth verse, and so withD.

11,2.In Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xxiv, Noxxx,

Kempy Kane's a wooin gane,And far ayont the sea awee.

32. years.52. on a stool.

32. years.

52. on a stool.

The first stanza is numbered 3 in the MS., the second 5, and there is space left, as if for another, between 2 and 3.

A wee, originally a burden at the middle and the end of the stanza, as inC,D, has been adopted into the verse in 1, 2, 6, 10(?), 11, in which stanzas the even lines are of four accents instead of three. 2, 6 can be easily restored, on the model ofC3,A6.54. in the water.

54. in the water.

I, I, Iis added as burden to every second and fourth line; except 12, which addshigh, high, and 24, onlyI, I.

FOOTNOTES:[294]MSS, II, 294, "What a bad luck had I" == The Queen of all Sluts, the same, p. 297. Stanzas 2, 3, 4, of the former are:Then een in her head are like two rotten plumbs;Turn her about and see how she glooms.The teeth in her head were like harrow-pins;Turn her about, and see how she girns.The hair in her head was like heathercrows,The l ...s were in't thick as linseed bows.A comparatively inoffensive version, 'The Queen of Sluts,' in Chambers' Scottish Songs, p. 454.[295]The Carl of Carlile has the space of a large span between his brows, three yards over his shoulders, fingers like tether-stakes, and fifty cubits of height. Percy MS., Hales & Furnivall, III, 283 f, vv 179-187.

[294]MSS, II, 294, "What a bad luck had I" == The Queen of all Sluts, the same, p. 297. Stanzas 2, 3, 4, of the former are:Then een in her head are like two rotten plumbs;Turn her about and see how she glooms.The teeth in her head were like harrow-pins;Turn her about, and see how she girns.The hair in her head was like heathercrows,The l ...s were in't thick as linseed bows.A comparatively inoffensive version, 'The Queen of Sluts,' in Chambers' Scottish Songs, p. 454.

[294]MSS, II, 294, "What a bad luck had I" == The Queen of all Sluts, the same, p. 297. Stanzas 2, 3, 4, of the former are:

Then een in her head are like two rotten plumbs;Turn her about and see how she glooms.The teeth in her head were like harrow-pins;Turn her about, and see how she girns.The hair in her head was like heathercrows,The l ...s were in't thick as linseed bows.

Then een in her head are like two rotten plumbs;Turn her about and see how she glooms.

The teeth in her head were like harrow-pins;Turn her about, and see how she girns.

The hair in her head was like heathercrows,The l ...s were in't thick as linseed bows.

A comparatively inoffensive version, 'The Queen of Sluts,' in Chambers' Scottish Songs, p. 454.

[295]The Carl of Carlile has the space of a large span between his brows, three yards over his shoulders, fingers like tether-stakes, and fifty cubits of height. Percy MS., Hales & Furnivall, III, 283 f, vv 179-187.

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