304

YOUNG RONALD

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 282; Motherwell’s MS., p. 601, derived from Buchan.

Young Ronald, a noble squire, but still school-boy (11, 29), lays his love on the daughter of the king of Linne, a locality which, as it occurs several times in ballads, we are glad to learn is not far from Windsor. In the course of an interview with the lady in her garden, she tells him that though she entirely feels the honor he has done her, she must be subject to her father’s will. Ronald’s father and mother are greatly concerned for their son, seeing that the lady has already rejected many suitors. He pays his love a second visit, and protests that for her sake he would fight long and hard. Be not too hasty, she answers; you must buckle with a more dangerous foe than you wot of, ere you win me by war. She proceeds to explain that her father will have to go to war the next day with a giant who has been very troublesome, and then to make him various offers with the view of enlisting him in the affair; among which are two standard rings, one of which will stanch the blood of any of his men who may be hurt, the other prevent the drawing of his own blood.

Young Ronald reports to his father the encouragement which he has received from his love, the impending contest with the giant, and the gifts which she has made him; and the father, on his part, promises him a company of a hundred well-armed men. Supported by these, and invigorated by a thirdmeeting in the garden, Ronald rides proudly to the field. The giant, who is handicapped with three heads on his neck, and three more on his breast, challenges the king of Linne to combat, and the king offers his daughter and a third of his lands to any champion who will undertake the giant. Ronald is ready, and, according to the rule in such cases, disdains the offer of any reward but the daughter. The thought of her gives him a lion’s courage, and such potency to his arm that he cuts off all the six heads of the giant at one sweep.

If any lover of ballads should feel his understanding insulted by the presentation of such a piece as this, I can have no quarrel with him. There is certainly much in it that is exasperating,—the greeters in the school, the lifting of the hat, and, most of all, perhaps, the mint in meadows. These are, however, the writer’s own property; the nicking with nay and the giant are borrowed from romances. In this and not a very few other cases, I have suppressed disgust, and admitted an actually worthless and a manifestly—at least in part—spurious ballad, because of a remote possibility that it might contain relics, or be a debased representative, of something genuine and better. Such was the advice of my lamented friend, Grundtvig, in more instances than those in which I have brought myself to defer to his judgment.

1It fell upon the Lammas time,When flowers were fresh and green,And craig and cleugh was covered owerWith cloathing that was clean.2’Twas at that time a noble squire,Sprung from an ancient line,Laid his love on a lady fair,The king’s daughter o Linne.3When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows sprang,Young Ronald and his little wee boyThey rode the way alang.4So they rode on, and farther on,To yonder pleasant green,And there he spied that lady fair,In her garden alane.5These two together lang they stood,And love’s tale there they taul;The glancing o her fair colorDid Ronald’s own impale.6He lifted’s hat, and thus he spake;O pity have on me!For I could pledge what is my right,All for the sake of thee.7‘Ye’re young amo your mirth, kind sir,And fair o your dull hours;There’s nae a lady in a’ LondonBut might be your paramour.8‘But I’m too young to wed, kind sir,You must not take it ill;Whate’er my father bids me do,I maun be at his will.’9He kissd her then and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And he is on to Windsor gone,And his boy by his side.10And when he unto Windsor came,And lighted on the green,There he spied his mother dear,Was walking there alane.11‘Where have ye been, my son, Ronald,From gude school-house, this day?’‘I hae been at Linne, mother,Seeing yon bonny may.’12‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,For she will not you hae;For mony a knight and bauld baronShe’s nickd them a’ wi nae.’13Young Ronald’s done him to his bower,And he took bed and lay;Nae woman could come in his sight,For the thoughts o this well-fard may.14Then in it came his father dear,Well belted in a brand;The tears ran frae his twa gray eyes,All for his lovely son.15Then Ronald calld his stable-groomTo come right speedilie;Says, Ye’ll gang to yon stable, boy,And saddle a steed for me.16‘His saddle o the guid red gowd,His bits be o the steel,His bridle o a glittering hue;See that ye saddle him weel.17‘For I’ve heard greeters at your school-house,Near thirty in a day;But for to hear an auld man greet,It passes bairns’ play.’18When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows sprang,Young Ronald and his little wee boyThe way they rode alang.19So they rode on, and further on,To yonder pleasant green,And there they saw that lady fair,In her garden alane.20And twenty times before he ceasdHe kissd her lips sae clear,And said, Dear lady, for your sake,I’ll fight fell lang and sair.21‘Full haste, nae speed, for me, kind sir,’Replied the lady clear;‘Far better bucklings ye maun bideOr ye gain my love by weir.22‘King Honour is my father’s name,The morn to war maun fare,And that’s to fight a proud giant,That’s wrought him muckle care.23‘Along wi him he is to takeBaith noble knights and squires;I woud wish you as well-dressd a knightAs ony will be there.24‘And I’ll gie you a thousand crowns,To part amang your men;A robe upon your ain body,Weel sewd wi my ain hand.25‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,The virtue it is gude;If ony o your men be hurt,It soon will stem their blude.26‘Another ring, a royal thing,Whose virtue is well known;As lang’s this ring your body’s on,Your bluid shall neer be drawn.’27He kissd her then, and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And he is on to Windsor gone,And his boy by his side.28And when he unto Windsor came,And lighted on the green,There he saw his auld father,Was walking him alane.29‘Where hae ye been, my son, Ronald,From gude school-house the day?’‘O I hae been at Linne, father,Seeking yon bonny may.’30‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,For she will not you hae;Mony a knight and bauld baronShe’s nickd them a’ wi nay.’31‘O had your tongue, my father dear,Lat a’ your folly be;The last words that I wi her spake,Her love was granted me.32‘King Honour is her father’s name,The morn to war maun fare,And that’s to fight a proud giant,That’s wrought him muckle care.33‘Alang wi him he means to takeBaith knights and noble squires;And she wishes me as well drest a knightAs ony will be there.34‘And she’s gaen me a thousand crowns,To part amang my men;A robe upon my ain body,Weel sewd wi her ain hand.35‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,The virtue it is gude;If ony o my men be hurt,It soon will stem their blude.36‘Another ring, a royal thing,Whose virtue is unknown;As lang’s this ring my body’s on,My blude will neer be drawn.’37‘If that be true, my son, Ronald,That ye hae tauld to me,I’ll gie to you an hundred men,To bear you companie.38‘Besides as muckle gude harnessAs carry them on the lee;It is a company gude enoughFor sic a squire as thee.’39When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows spread,Young Ronald and his merry young menWere ready for to ride.40So they rode on, and farther on,To yonder pleasant green,And there they spied that lady fair,In her garden, sair mourning.41These twa together lang they stood,And love’s tale there they taul,Till her father and his merry young menHad ridden seven mile.42He kissd her then, and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And then he sprang alang the roadAs sparks do frae the gleed.43Then to his great steed he set spur;He being swift o feet,They soon arrived on the plain,Where all the rest did meet.44Then flew the foul thief frae the west,His make was never seen;He had three heads upon ae hause,Three heads on ae breast-bane.45He bauldly stept up to the king,Seiz’d ’s steed in his right hand;Says, Here I am, a valiant man,Fight me now if ye can.46‘Where is the man in a’ my trainWill take this deed in hand?And he shall hae my daughter dear,And third part o my land.’47‘O here am I,’ said young Ronald,‘Will take the deed in hand;And ye’ll gie me your daughter dear,I’ll seek nane o your land.’48‘I woudna for my life, Ronald,This day I left you here;Remember ye yon lady gayFor you shed mony a tear.’49Fan he did mind on that ladyThat he left him behind,He hadna mair fear to fightNor a lion frae a chain.50Then he cut aff the giant’s headsWi ae sweep o his hand,Gaed hame and married that lady,And heird her father’s land.

1It fell upon the Lammas time,When flowers were fresh and green,And craig and cleugh was covered owerWith cloathing that was clean.

It fell upon the Lammas time,

When flowers were fresh and green,

And craig and cleugh was covered ower

With cloathing that was clean.

2’Twas at that time a noble squire,Sprung from an ancient line,Laid his love on a lady fair,The king’s daughter o Linne.

’Twas at that time a noble squire,

Sprung from an ancient line,

Laid his love on a lady fair,

The king’s daughter o Linne.

3When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows sprang,Young Ronald and his little wee boyThey rode the way alang.

When cocks did craw, and day did daw,

And mint in meadows sprang,

Young Ronald and his little wee boy

They rode the way alang.

4So they rode on, and farther on,To yonder pleasant green,And there he spied that lady fair,In her garden alane.

So they rode on, and farther on,

To yonder pleasant green,

And there he spied that lady fair,

In her garden alane.

5These two together lang they stood,And love’s tale there they taul;The glancing o her fair colorDid Ronald’s own impale.

These two together lang they stood,

And love’s tale there they taul;

The glancing o her fair color

Did Ronald’s own impale.

6He lifted’s hat, and thus he spake;O pity have on me!For I could pledge what is my right,All for the sake of thee.

He lifted’s hat, and thus he spake;

O pity have on me!

For I could pledge what is my right,

All for the sake of thee.

7‘Ye’re young amo your mirth, kind sir,And fair o your dull hours;There’s nae a lady in a’ LondonBut might be your paramour.

‘Ye’re young amo your mirth, kind sir,

And fair o your dull hours;

There’s nae a lady in a’ London

But might be your paramour.

8‘But I’m too young to wed, kind sir,You must not take it ill;Whate’er my father bids me do,I maun be at his will.’

‘But I’m too young to wed, kind sir,

You must not take it ill;

Whate’er my father bids me do,

I maun be at his will.’

9He kissd her then and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And he is on to Windsor gone,And his boy by his side.

He kissd her then and took his leave,

His heart was all in pride,

And he is on to Windsor gone,

And his boy by his side.

10And when he unto Windsor came,And lighted on the green,There he spied his mother dear,Was walking there alane.

And when he unto Windsor came,

And lighted on the green,

There he spied his mother dear,

Was walking there alane.

11‘Where have ye been, my son, Ronald,From gude school-house, this day?’‘I hae been at Linne, mother,Seeing yon bonny may.’

‘Where have ye been, my son, Ronald,

From gude school-house, this day?’

‘I hae been at Linne, mother,

Seeing yon bonny may.’

12‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,For she will not you hae;For mony a knight and bauld baronShe’s nickd them a’ wi nae.’

‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,

For she will not you hae;

For mony a knight and bauld baron

She’s nickd them a’ wi nae.’

13Young Ronald’s done him to his bower,And he took bed and lay;Nae woman could come in his sight,For the thoughts o this well-fard may.

Young Ronald’s done him to his bower,

And he took bed and lay;

Nae woman could come in his sight,

For the thoughts o this well-fard may.

14Then in it came his father dear,Well belted in a brand;The tears ran frae his twa gray eyes,All for his lovely son.

Then in it came his father dear,

Well belted in a brand;

The tears ran frae his twa gray eyes,

All for his lovely son.

15Then Ronald calld his stable-groomTo come right speedilie;Says, Ye’ll gang to yon stable, boy,And saddle a steed for me.

Then Ronald calld his stable-groom

To come right speedilie;

Says, Ye’ll gang to yon stable, boy,

And saddle a steed for me.

16‘His saddle o the guid red gowd,His bits be o the steel,His bridle o a glittering hue;See that ye saddle him weel.

‘His saddle o the guid red gowd,

His bits be o the steel,

His bridle o a glittering hue;

See that ye saddle him weel.

17‘For I’ve heard greeters at your school-house,Near thirty in a day;But for to hear an auld man greet,It passes bairns’ play.’

‘For I’ve heard greeters at your school-house,

Near thirty in a day;

But for to hear an auld man greet,

It passes bairns’ play.’

18When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows sprang,Young Ronald and his little wee boyThe way they rode alang.

When cocks did craw, and day did daw,

And mint in meadows sprang,

Young Ronald and his little wee boy

The way they rode alang.

19So they rode on, and further on,To yonder pleasant green,And there they saw that lady fair,In her garden alane.

So they rode on, and further on,

To yonder pleasant green,

And there they saw that lady fair,

In her garden alane.

20And twenty times before he ceasdHe kissd her lips sae clear,And said, Dear lady, for your sake,I’ll fight fell lang and sair.

And twenty times before he ceasd

He kissd her lips sae clear,

And said, Dear lady, for your sake,

I’ll fight fell lang and sair.

21‘Full haste, nae speed, for me, kind sir,’Replied the lady clear;‘Far better bucklings ye maun bideOr ye gain my love by weir.

‘Full haste, nae speed, for me, kind sir,’

Replied the lady clear;

‘Far better bucklings ye maun bide

Or ye gain my love by weir.

22‘King Honour is my father’s name,The morn to war maun fare,And that’s to fight a proud giant,That’s wrought him muckle care.

‘King Honour is my father’s name,

The morn to war maun fare,

And that’s to fight a proud giant,

That’s wrought him muckle care.

23‘Along wi him he is to takeBaith noble knights and squires;I woud wish you as well-dressd a knightAs ony will be there.

‘Along wi him he is to take

Baith noble knights and squires;

I woud wish you as well-dressd a knight

As ony will be there.

24‘And I’ll gie you a thousand crowns,To part amang your men;A robe upon your ain body,Weel sewd wi my ain hand.

‘And I’ll gie you a thousand crowns,

To part amang your men;

A robe upon your ain body,

Weel sewd wi my ain hand.

25‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,The virtue it is gude;If ony o your men be hurt,It soon will stem their blude.

‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,

The virtue it is gude;

If ony o your men be hurt,

It soon will stem their blude.

26‘Another ring, a royal thing,Whose virtue is well known;As lang’s this ring your body’s on,Your bluid shall neer be drawn.’

‘Another ring, a royal thing,

Whose virtue is well known;

As lang’s this ring your body’s on,

Your bluid shall neer be drawn.’

27He kissd her then, and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And he is on to Windsor gone,And his boy by his side.

He kissd her then, and took his leave,

His heart was all in pride,

And he is on to Windsor gone,

And his boy by his side.

28And when he unto Windsor came,And lighted on the green,There he saw his auld father,Was walking him alane.

And when he unto Windsor came,

And lighted on the green,

There he saw his auld father,

Was walking him alane.

29‘Where hae ye been, my son, Ronald,From gude school-house the day?’‘O I hae been at Linne, father,Seeking yon bonny may.’

‘Where hae ye been, my son, Ronald,

From gude school-house the day?’

‘O I hae been at Linne, father,

Seeking yon bonny may.’

30‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,For she will not you hae;Mony a knight and bauld baronShe’s nickd them a’ wi nay.’

‘O wae’s me for you now, Ronald,

For she will not you hae;

Mony a knight and bauld baron

She’s nickd them a’ wi nay.’

31‘O had your tongue, my father dear,Lat a’ your folly be;The last words that I wi her spake,Her love was granted me.

‘O had your tongue, my father dear,

Lat a’ your folly be;

The last words that I wi her spake,

Her love was granted me.

32‘King Honour is her father’s name,The morn to war maun fare,And that’s to fight a proud giant,That’s wrought him muckle care.

‘King Honour is her father’s name,

The morn to war maun fare,

And that’s to fight a proud giant,

That’s wrought him muckle care.

33‘Alang wi him he means to takeBaith knights and noble squires;And she wishes me as well drest a knightAs ony will be there.

‘Alang wi him he means to take

Baith knights and noble squires;

And she wishes me as well drest a knight

As ony will be there.

34‘And she’s gaen me a thousand crowns,To part amang my men;A robe upon my ain body,Weel sewd wi her ain hand.

‘And she’s gaen me a thousand crowns,

To part amang my men;

A robe upon my ain body,

Weel sewd wi her ain hand.

35‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,The virtue it is gude;If ony o my men be hurt,It soon will stem their blude.

‘Likewise a ring, a royal thing,

The virtue it is gude;

If ony o my men be hurt,

It soon will stem their blude.

36‘Another ring, a royal thing,Whose virtue is unknown;As lang’s this ring my body’s on,My blude will neer be drawn.’

‘Another ring, a royal thing,

Whose virtue is unknown;

As lang’s this ring my body’s on,

My blude will neer be drawn.’

37‘If that be true, my son, Ronald,That ye hae tauld to me,I’ll gie to you an hundred men,To bear you companie.

‘If that be true, my son, Ronald,

That ye hae tauld to me,

I’ll gie to you an hundred men,

To bear you companie.

38‘Besides as muckle gude harnessAs carry them on the lee;It is a company gude enoughFor sic a squire as thee.’

‘Besides as muckle gude harness

As carry them on the lee;

It is a company gude enough

For sic a squire as thee.’

39When cocks did craw, and day did daw,And mint in meadows spread,Young Ronald and his merry young menWere ready for to ride.

When cocks did craw, and day did daw,

And mint in meadows spread,

Young Ronald and his merry young men

Were ready for to ride.

40So they rode on, and farther on,To yonder pleasant green,And there they spied that lady fair,In her garden, sair mourning.

So they rode on, and farther on,

To yonder pleasant green,

And there they spied that lady fair,

In her garden, sair mourning.

41These twa together lang they stood,And love’s tale there they taul,Till her father and his merry young menHad ridden seven mile.

These twa together lang they stood,

And love’s tale there they taul,

Till her father and his merry young men

Had ridden seven mile.

42He kissd her then, and took his leave,His heart was all in pride,And then he sprang alang the roadAs sparks do frae the gleed.

He kissd her then, and took his leave,

His heart was all in pride,

And then he sprang alang the road

As sparks do frae the gleed.

43Then to his great steed he set spur;He being swift o feet,They soon arrived on the plain,Where all the rest did meet.

Then to his great steed he set spur;

He being swift o feet,

They soon arrived on the plain,

Where all the rest did meet.

44Then flew the foul thief frae the west,His make was never seen;He had three heads upon ae hause,Three heads on ae breast-bane.

Then flew the foul thief frae the west,

His make was never seen;

He had three heads upon ae hause,

Three heads on ae breast-bane.

45He bauldly stept up to the king,Seiz’d ’s steed in his right hand;Says, Here I am, a valiant man,Fight me now if ye can.

He bauldly stept up to the king,

Seiz’d ’s steed in his right hand;

Says, Here I am, a valiant man,

Fight me now if ye can.

46‘Where is the man in a’ my trainWill take this deed in hand?And he shall hae my daughter dear,And third part o my land.’

‘Where is the man in a’ my train

Will take this deed in hand?

And he shall hae my daughter dear,

And third part o my land.’

47‘O here am I,’ said young Ronald,‘Will take the deed in hand;And ye’ll gie me your daughter dear,I’ll seek nane o your land.’

‘O here am I,’ said young Ronald,

‘Will take the deed in hand;

And ye’ll gie me your daughter dear,

I’ll seek nane o your land.’

48‘I woudna for my life, Ronald,This day I left you here;Remember ye yon lady gayFor you shed mony a tear.’

‘I woudna for my life, Ronald,

This day I left you here;

Remember ye yon lady gay

For you shed mony a tear.’

49Fan he did mind on that ladyThat he left him behind,He hadna mair fear to fightNor a lion frae a chain.

Fan he did mind on that lady

That he left him behind,

He hadna mair fear to fight

Nor a lion frae a chain.

50Then he cut aff the giant’s headsWi ae sweep o his hand,Gaed hame and married that lady,And heird her father’s land.

Then he cut aff the giant’s heads

Wi ae sweep o his hand,

Gaed hame and married that lady,

And heird her father’s land.

53. collar.54. oneforown.142. and a.263. ring’s:cf.363.331. I mean:cf.231.362. Which:cf.262.

53. collar.

54. oneforown.

142. and a.

263. ring’s:cf.363.

331. I mean:cf.231.

362. Which:cf.262.

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