295
THE BROWN GIRL
A.‘The bonny Brown Girl,’ ‘The Brown Girl,’ The Brown Girl’s Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (10).B.As lately taken down in Devon by Rev. S. Baring-Gould.
A.‘The bonny Brown Girl,’ ‘The Brown Girl,’ The Brown Girl’s Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (10).
B.As lately taken down in Devon by Rev. S. Baring-Gould.
A young man who has been attached to a girl sends her word by letter that he cannot fancy her because she is so brown (he has left her for another maid inB). She sends a disdainful reply. He writes again that he is dangerously ill (he is love-sick inB), and begs her come to him quickly and give him back his faith. She takes her time in going, and when she comes to the sick man’s bedside, cannot stand for laughing. She has, however, brought a white wand with her, which she strokes on his breast, in sign that she gives him back the faith which he had given her. But as to forgetting and forgiving, that she will never do; she will dance upon his grave.
This little ballad recalls ‘Lord Thomas and Fair Annet’ (‘Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor, with the downfall of the Brown Girl’), ‘Sweet William’s Ghost,’ ‘Clerk Saunders,’ ‘The Unquiet Grave,’ ‘Bonny Barbara Allan,’ and has something of all of them. Compare No 73; No 77,A4,B2, 9,C6, 14,D4, 13,E6, 14; No 84 (for the laughing,B12); No 69,A20-22,D11, 14,E17-20,G23-25; No 78,B2,E2,F2. Still it is not deliberately and mechanically patched together (as are some pieces in Part VIII), and in the point of the proud and unrelenting character of the Brown Girl it is original.
The Brown Girl’s Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (10), n. d., before 1788.
The Brown Girl’s Garland, British Museum, 11621. c. 3 (10), n. d., before 1788.
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,My eyes as black as a sloe;I am as brisk as a nightingale,And as wilde as any doe.2‘My love has sent me a love-letter,Not far from yonder town,That he could not fancy me,Because I was so brown.3‘I sent him his letter back again,For his love I valu’d not,Whether that he could fancy meOr whether he could not.4‘He sent me his letter back again,That he lay dangerous sick,That I might then go speedilyTo give him up his faith.’5Now you shall hear what love she hadThen for this love-sick man;She was a whole long summer’s dayIn a mile a going on.6When she came to her love’s bed-side,Where he lay dangerous sick,She could not for laughing standUpright upon her feet.7She had a white wand all in her hand,And smoothd it all on his breast;‘In faith and troth come pardon me,I hope your soul’s at rest.8‘I’ll do as much for my true-loveAs other maidens may;I’ll dance and sing on my love’s graveA whole twelvemonth and a day.’
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,My eyes as black as a sloe;I am as brisk as a nightingale,And as wilde as any doe.2‘My love has sent me a love-letter,Not far from yonder town,That he could not fancy me,Because I was so brown.3‘I sent him his letter back again,For his love I valu’d not,Whether that he could fancy meOr whether he could not.4‘He sent me his letter back again,That he lay dangerous sick,That I might then go speedilyTo give him up his faith.’5Now you shall hear what love she hadThen for this love-sick man;She was a whole long summer’s dayIn a mile a going on.6When she came to her love’s bed-side,Where he lay dangerous sick,She could not for laughing standUpright upon her feet.7She had a white wand all in her hand,And smoothd it all on his breast;‘In faith and troth come pardon me,I hope your soul’s at rest.8‘I’ll do as much for my true-loveAs other maidens may;I’ll dance and sing on my love’s graveA whole twelvemonth and a day.’
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,My eyes as black as a sloe;I am as brisk as a nightingale,And as wilde as any doe.
1
‘I am as brown as brown can be,
My eyes as black as a sloe;
I am as brisk as a nightingale,
And as wilde as any doe.
2‘My love has sent me a love-letter,Not far from yonder town,That he could not fancy me,Because I was so brown.
2
‘My love has sent me a love-letter,
Not far from yonder town,
That he could not fancy me,
Because I was so brown.
3‘I sent him his letter back again,For his love I valu’d not,Whether that he could fancy meOr whether he could not.
3
‘I sent him his letter back again,
For his love I valu’d not,
Whether that he could fancy me
Or whether he could not.
4‘He sent me his letter back again,That he lay dangerous sick,That I might then go speedilyTo give him up his faith.’
4
‘He sent me his letter back again,
That he lay dangerous sick,
That I might then go speedily
To give him up his faith.’
5Now you shall hear what love she hadThen for this love-sick man;She was a whole long summer’s dayIn a mile a going on.
5
Now you shall hear what love she had
Then for this love-sick man;
She was a whole long summer’s day
In a mile a going on.
6When she came to her love’s bed-side,Where he lay dangerous sick,She could not for laughing standUpright upon her feet.
6
When she came to her love’s bed-side,
Where he lay dangerous sick,
She could not for laughing stand
Upright upon her feet.
7She had a white wand all in her hand,And smoothd it all on his breast;‘In faith and troth come pardon me,I hope your soul’s at rest.
7
She had a white wand all in her hand,
And smoothd it all on his breast;
‘In faith and troth come pardon me,
I hope your soul’s at rest.
8‘I’ll do as much for my true-loveAs other maidens may;I’ll dance and sing on my love’s graveA whole twelvemonth and a day.’
8
‘I’ll do as much for my true-love
As other maidens may;
I’ll dance and sing on my love’s grave
A whole twelvemonth and a day.’
Taken down lately by Rev. S. Baring-Gould from a blacksmith, parish of Thrushleton, Devon.
Taken down lately by Rev. S. Baring-Gould from a blacksmith, parish of Thrushleton, Devon.
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,And my eyes as black as sloe;I am as brisk as brisk can be,And wild as forest doe.2‘My love he was so high and proud,His fortune too so high,He for another fair pretty maidMe left and passed me by.3‘Me did he send a love-letter,He sent it from the town,Saying no more he loved me,For that I was so brown.4‘I sent his letter back again,Saying his love I valued not,Whether that he would fancy me,Whether that he would not.5‘When that six months were overpassd,Were overpassd and gone,Then did my lover, once so bold,Lie on his bed and groan.6‘When that six months were overpassd,Were gone and overpassd,O then my lover, once so bold,With love was sick at last.7‘First sent he for the doctor-man:‘You, doctor, me must cure;The pains that now do torture meI can not long endure.’8‘Next did he send from out the town,O next did send for me;He sent for me, the brown, brown girlWho once his wife should be.9‘O neer a bit the doctor-manHis sufferings could relieve;O never an one but the brown, brown girlWho could his life reprieve.’10Now you shall hear what love she hadFor this poor love-sick man,How all one day, a summer’s day,She walked and never ran.11When that she came to his bedside,Where he lay sick and weak,O then for laughing she could not standUpright upon her feet.12‘You flouted me, you scouted me,And many another one;Now the reward is come at last,For all that you have done.’13The rings she took from off her hands,The rings by two and three:‘O take, O take these golden rings,By them remember me.’14She had a white wand in her hand,She strake him on the breast:‘My faith and troth I give back to thee,So may thy soul have rest.’15‘Prithee,’ said he, ‘forget, forget,Prithee forget, forgive;O grant me yet a little space,That I may be well and live.’16‘O never will I forget, forgive,So long as I have breath;I’ll dance above your green, green graveWhere you do lie beneath.’
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,And my eyes as black as sloe;I am as brisk as brisk can be,And wild as forest doe.2‘My love he was so high and proud,His fortune too so high,He for another fair pretty maidMe left and passed me by.3‘Me did he send a love-letter,He sent it from the town,Saying no more he loved me,For that I was so brown.4‘I sent his letter back again,Saying his love I valued not,Whether that he would fancy me,Whether that he would not.5‘When that six months were overpassd,Were overpassd and gone,Then did my lover, once so bold,Lie on his bed and groan.6‘When that six months were overpassd,Were gone and overpassd,O then my lover, once so bold,With love was sick at last.7‘First sent he for the doctor-man:‘You, doctor, me must cure;The pains that now do torture meI can not long endure.’8‘Next did he send from out the town,O next did send for me;He sent for me, the brown, brown girlWho once his wife should be.9‘O neer a bit the doctor-manHis sufferings could relieve;O never an one but the brown, brown girlWho could his life reprieve.’10Now you shall hear what love she hadFor this poor love-sick man,How all one day, a summer’s day,She walked and never ran.11When that she came to his bedside,Where he lay sick and weak,O then for laughing she could not standUpright upon her feet.12‘You flouted me, you scouted me,And many another one;Now the reward is come at last,For all that you have done.’13The rings she took from off her hands,The rings by two and three:‘O take, O take these golden rings,By them remember me.’14She had a white wand in her hand,She strake him on the breast:‘My faith and troth I give back to thee,So may thy soul have rest.’15‘Prithee,’ said he, ‘forget, forget,Prithee forget, forgive;O grant me yet a little space,That I may be well and live.’16‘O never will I forget, forgive,So long as I have breath;I’ll dance above your green, green graveWhere you do lie beneath.’
1‘I am as brown as brown can be,And my eyes as black as sloe;I am as brisk as brisk can be,And wild as forest doe.
1
‘I am as brown as brown can be,
And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.
2‘My love he was so high and proud,His fortune too so high,He for another fair pretty maidMe left and passed me by.
2
‘My love he was so high and proud,
His fortune too so high,
He for another fair pretty maid
Me left and passed me by.
3‘Me did he send a love-letter,He sent it from the town,Saying no more he loved me,For that I was so brown.
3
‘Me did he send a love-letter,
He sent it from the town,
Saying no more he loved me,
For that I was so brown.
4‘I sent his letter back again,Saying his love I valued not,Whether that he would fancy me,Whether that he would not.
4
‘I sent his letter back again,
Saying his love I valued not,
Whether that he would fancy me,
Whether that he would not.
5‘When that six months were overpassd,Were overpassd and gone,Then did my lover, once so bold,Lie on his bed and groan.
5
‘When that six months were overpassd,
Were overpassd and gone,
Then did my lover, once so bold,
Lie on his bed and groan.
6‘When that six months were overpassd,Were gone and overpassd,O then my lover, once so bold,With love was sick at last.
6
‘When that six months were overpassd,
Were gone and overpassd,
O then my lover, once so bold,
With love was sick at last.
7‘First sent he for the doctor-man:‘You, doctor, me must cure;The pains that now do torture meI can not long endure.’
7
‘First sent he for the doctor-man:
‘You, doctor, me must cure;
The pains that now do torture me
I can not long endure.’
8‘Next did he send from out the town,O next did send for me;He sent for me, the brown, brown girlWho once his wife should be.
8
‘Next did he send from out the town,
O next did send for me;
He sent for me, the brown, brown girl
Who once his wife should be.
9‘O neer a bit the doctor-manHis sufferings could relieve;O never an one but the brown, brown girlWho could his life reprieve.’
9
‘O neer a bit the doctor-man
His sufferings could relieve;
O never an one but the brown, brown girl
Who could his life reprieve.’
10Now you shall hear what love she hadFor this poor love-sick man,How all one day, a summer’s day,She walked and never ran.
10
Now you shall hear what love she had
For this poor love-sick man,
How all one day, a summer’s day,
She walked and never ran.
11When that she came to his bedside,Where he lay sick and weak,O then for laughing she could not standUpright upon her feet.
11
When that she came to his bedside,
Where he lay sick and weak,
O then for laughing she could not stand
Upright upon her feet.
12‘You flouted me, you scouted me,And many another one;Now the reward is come at last,For all that you have done.’
12
‘You flouted me, you scouted me,
And many another one;
Now the reward is come at last,
For all that you have done.’
13The rings she took from off her hands,The rings by two and three:‘O take, O take these golden rings,By them remember me.’
13
The rings she took from off her hands,
The rings by two and three:
‘O take, O take these golden rings,
By them remember me.’
14She had a white wand in her hand,She strake him on the breast:‘My faith and troth I give back to thee,So may thy soul have rest.’
14
She had a white wand in her hand,
She strake him on the breast:
‘My faith and troth I give back to thee,
So may thy soul have rest.’
15‘Prithee,’ said he, ‘forget, forget,Prithee forget, forgive;O grant me yet a little space,That I may be well and live.’
15
‘Prithee,’ said he, ‘forget, forget,
Prithee forget, forgive;
O grant me yet a little space,
That I may be well and live.’
16‘O never will I forget, forgive,So long as I have breath;I’ll dance above your green, green graveWhere you do lie beneath.’
16
‘O never will I forget, forgive,
So long as I have breath;
I’ll dance above your green, green grave
Where you do lie beneath.’
A.
Heading.The Brown Girl; to an excellent tune.
Heading.The Brown Girl; to an excellent tune.
B.
FromA right merry book of Garlands. Collected by J. Bell, on the Quay, Newcastle upon Tyne.A slip inserted after the 6th Garland bears these words: The old garlands in these volumes [11621. c. 3, c. 4] are printed by J. White, who died in 1769, and by T. Saint, who died in 1788.... Letter of J. Bell.The Brown Girl’s Garland, composed of four extraordinary new songs.The bonny Brown Girl, etc., etc.44. his Eilk.
FromA right merry book of Garlands. Collected by J. Bell, on the Quay, Newcastle upon Tyne.A slip inserted after the 6th Garland bears these words: The old garlands in these volumes [11621. c. 3, c. 4] are printed by J. White, who died in 1769, and by T. Saint, who died in 1788.... Letter of J. Bell.
The Brown Girl’s Garland, composed of four extraordinary new songs.
The bonny Brown Girl, etc., etc.
44. his Eilk.