by Homer
“For ye have left me no other guide.”
He’s lifted her on a milk-white steed,
And himself on a dapple grey,
With a bugelet horn hung down by his side,
And slowly they baith rade away. 40
O they rade on, and on they rade,
And a’ by the light of the moon,
Until they came to yon wan water,
And there they lighted down.
They lighted down to tak a drink 45
Of the spring that ran sae clear,
And down the stream ran his gude heart’s blood,
And sair she gan to fear.
“Hold up, hold up, Lord William,” she says,
“For I fear that you are slain;” 50
“’Tis naething but the shadow of my scarlet cloak,
That shines in the water sae plain.”
O they rade on, and on they rade,
And a’ by the light of the moon,
Until they cam to his mother’s ha door, 55
And there they lighted down.
“Get up, get up, lady mother,” he says,
“Get up, and let me in!
Get up, get up, lady mother,” he says,
“For this night my fair lady I’ve win. 60
“O mak my bed, lady mother,” he says,
“O make it braid and deep,
And lay lady Margret close at my back,
And the sounder I will sleep.”
Lord William was dead lang ere midnight, 65
Lady Margret lang ere day,
And all true lovers that go thegither,
May they have mair luck than they!
Lord William was buried in St. Mary’s kirk,
Lady Margret in Mary’s quire; 70
Out o the lady’s grave grew a bonny red rose,
And out o the knight’s a brier.
And they twa met, and they twa plat,
And fain they wad be near;
And a’ the warld might ken right weel 75
They were twa lovers dear.
But bye and rade the Black Douglas,
And wow but he was rough!
For he pulld up the bonny brier,
And Flang’t in St. Mary’s Loch. 80
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
The Twa Sisters
Traditional Ballads
THERE was twa sisters in a bowr,
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
Binnorie, O Binnorie
There was twa sisters in a bowr, 5
There came a knight to be their wooer,
By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie.
He courted the eldest wi glove an ring,
But he lovd the youngest above a’ thing.
He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife, 10
But lovd the Youngest as his life.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
An much envi’d her sister fair.
Into her bowr she could not rest,
Wi grief an spite she almos brast. 15
Upon a morning fair an clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:
“O sister, come to yon sea stran,
An see our father’s ships come to lan.”
She’s taen her by the milk-white han, 20
And led her down to yon sea stran.
The younges[t] stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an threw her in.
She tooke her by the middle sma,
And dashd her bonny back to the jaw. 25
“O sister, sister, tak my han,
An Ise mack you heir to a’ my lan.
“O sister, sister, tak my middle,
An Yes get my goud and my gouden girdle.
“O sister, sister, save my life, 30
An I swear Ise never be nae man’s wife.”
“Foul fa the han that I should tacke,
It twin’ d me an my wardles make.
“Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair
Gars me gae maiden for evermair.” 35
Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.
O out it came the miller’s son,
An saw the fair maid swimmin in.
“O father, father, draw your dam, 40
Here’s either a mermaid or a swan.”
The miller quickly drew the dam,
An there he found a drownd woman.
You coudna see her yallow hair
For gold and pearle that were so rare. 45
You coudna see her middle sma
For gouden girdle that was sae braw.
You coudna see her fingers white,
For gouden rings that was sae gryte.
An by there came a harper fine, 50
That harped to the king at dine.
When he did look that lady upon,
He sighd and made a heavy moan.
He’s taen three locks o her yallow hair,
An wi them strung his harp sae fair. 55
The first tune he did play and sing,
Was, “Farewell to my father the king.”
The nextin tune that he playd syne,
Was, “Farewell to my mother the queen.”
The lasten tune that he playd then, 60
Was, “Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.”
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Edward
Traditional Ballads
“WHY dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee O?”
“O I hae killed my hauke sae guid, 5
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee O.”
“Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward, 10
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee O.”
“O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my reid-roan steid, 15
That erst was sae fair and frie O.”
“Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie O.” 20
“O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O!”
“And whatten penance wul ye drie for that, 25
Edward, Edward,
And whatten penance will ye drie for that?
My deir son, now tell me O.”
“Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither, 30
Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
And Ile fare ovir the sea O.”
“And what wul ye doe wi your towirs and your ha,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul you doe wi your towirs and your ha, 35
That were sae fair to see O?”
“Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa,
Mither, mither,
Ile let thame stand till they down fa,
For here nevir mair maun I bee O.” 40
“And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Whan ye gang ovir the sea O?”
“The warldis room, late them beg thrae life, 45
Mither, mither,
The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
For thame nevir mair wul I see O.”
“And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,
Edward, Edward? 50
And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?
My deir son, now tell me O.”
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“The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither,
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, 55
Sic counseils ye gave to me O.”
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Babylon; or, The Bonnie Banks o Fordie
Traditional Ballads
THERE were three ladies lived in a bower,
Eh vow bonnie
And they went out to pull a flower,
On the bonnie banks o Fordie
They hadna pu’ed a flower but ane, 5
When up started to them a banisht man.
He’s taen the first sister by her hand,
And he’s turned her round and made her stand.
“It’s whether will ye be a rank robber’s wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?” 10
“It’s I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife,
But I’ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.”
He’s killed this may, and he’s laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
He’s taken the second ane by the hand, 15
And he’s turned her round and made her stand.
“It’s whether will ye be a rank robber’s wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?”
“I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife,
But I’ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.” 20
He’s killed this may, and he’s laid her by,
For to bear the red rose company.
He’s taken the youngest ane by the hand,
And he’s turned her round and made her stand.
Says, “Will ye be a rank robber’s wife, 25
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?”
“I’ll not be a rank robber’s wife,
Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife.
“For I hae a brother in this wood,
And gin ye kill me, it’s he’ll kill thee.” 30
“What’s thy brother’s name? come tell to me.”
“My brother’s name is Baby Lon.”
“O sister, sister, what have I done!
O have I done this ill to thee!
“O since I’ve done this evil deed, 35
Good sall never be seen o me.”
He’s taken out his wee pen-knife,
And he’s twyned himsel o his ain sweet life.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Hind Horn
Traditional Ballads
IN Scotland there was a babie born,
And his name it was called young Hind Horn.
Lilie lal, etc. With a fal lal, etc.
He sent a letter to our king
That he was in love with his daughter Jean. 5
He’s gien to her a silver wand,
With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.
She’s gien to him a diamond ring,
With seven bright diamonds set therein.
“When this ring grows pale and wan, 10
You may know by it my love is gane.”
One day as he looked his ring upon,
He saw the diamonds pale and wan.
He left the sea and came to land,
And the first that he met was an old beggar man. 15
“What news, what news?” said young Hind Horn;
“No news, no news,” said the old beggar man.
“No news,” said the beggar, “no news at a’,
But there’s a wedding in the king’s ha.
“But there is a wedding in the king’s ha, 20
That has halden these forty days and twa.”
“Will ye lend me your begging coat?
And I’ll lend you my scarlet cloak.
“Will you lend me your beggar’s rung?
And I’ll gie you my steed to ride upon. 25
“Will you lend me your wig o hair,
To cover mine, because it is fair?”
The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
But young Hind Horn for the king’s hall.
The auld beggar man was bound for to ride, 30
But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.
When he came to the king’s gate,
He sought a drink for Hind Horn’s sake.
The bride came down with a glass of wine,
When he drank out of the glass, and dropt in the ring. 35
“O got ye this by sea or land?
Or got ye it off a dead man’s hand?”
“I got not it by sea, I got it by land,
And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.”
“O I’ll cast off my gowns of brown, 40
And beg wi you frae town to town.
“O I’ll cast off my gowns of red,
And I’ll beg wi you to win my bread.”
“Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,
For I’ll make you lady o many a town. 45
“Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,
It’s only a sham, the begging o my bread.”
The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,
But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
List of Poems in Alphabetical Order
List of Poets in Alphabetical Order
Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Traditional Ballads
LORD THOMAS and Fair Annet
Sate a’ day on a hill;
Whan night was cum, and sun was sett,
They had not talkt their fill.
Lord Thomas said a word in jest, 5
Fair Annet took it ill:
“A, I will nevir wed a wife
Against my ain friends’ will.”
“Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee:” 10
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee.
“O rede, O rede, mither,” he says,
“A gude rede gie to mee;
O sall I tak the nut-browne bride, 15
And let Faire Annet bee?”
“The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear,
Fair Annet she has gat nane;
And the little beauty Fair Annet haes
O it wull soon be gane.” 20
And he has till his brother gane:
“Now, brother, rede ye mee;
A, sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And let Fair Annet bee?”
“The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother, 25
The nut-browne bride has kye;
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And cast Fair Annet bye.”
“Her oxen may dye i the house, billie,
And her kye into the byre, 30
And I sall hae nothing to mysell
Bot a fat fadge by the fyre.”
And he has till his sister gane:
“Now, sister, rede ye mee;
O sall I marrie the nut-browne bride, 35
And set Fair Annet free?”
“Ise rede ye tak Fair Annet, Thomas,
And let the browne bride alane;
Lest ye sould sigh, and say, Alace,
What is this we brought hame!” 40
“No, I will tak my mither’s counsel,
And marrie me owt o hand;
And I will tak the nut-browne bride,
Fair Annet may leive the land.”
Up then rose Fair Annet’s father, 45
Twa hours or it wer day,
And he is gane into the bower
Wherein Fair Annet lay.
“Rise up, rise up, Fair Annet,” he says,
“Put on your silken sheene; 50
Let us gae to St. Marie’s kirke,
And see that rich weddeen.”
“My maides, gae to my dressing-roome,
And dress to me my hair;
Whaireir yee laid a plait before, 55
See yee lay ten times mair.
“My maids, gae to my dressing-room,
And dress to me my smock;
The one half is o the holland fine,
The other o needle-work.” 60
The horse Fair Annet rade upon,
He amblit like the wind;
Wi siller he was shod before,
Wi burning gowd behind.
Four and twanty siller bells 65
Wer a’ tyed till his mane,
And yae tift o the norland wind,
They tinkled ane by ane.
Four and twanty gay gude knichts
Rade by Fair Annet’s side, 70
And four and twanty fair ladies,
As gin she had bin a bride.
And whan she cam to Marie’s kirk,
She sat on Marie’s stean:
The cleading that Fair Annet had on 75
It skinkled in their een.
And whan she cam into the kirk,
She shimmerd like the sun;
The belt that was about her waist
Was a’ wi pearles bedone. 80