The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
68
The Egyptian Laddy
THE GYPSY LADDIE—D
[_]
Kinloch MSS, V, 331, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton; from a reciter who came from the vicinity of Craigievar.
1
There came Gyptians to Corse Field yeats,Black, tho they warna bonny;
They danced so neat and they danced so fine,
Till down came the bonny lady.
2
She came trippin down the stair,And her nine maidens afore her;
But up and starts him Johny Fa,
And he cast the glamour oer her.
3
‘Ye'll take frae me this gay mantle,And ye'll gie to me a plaidie;
For I shall follow Johny Fa,
Lat weel or woe betide me.’
4
They've taen frae her her fine mantle,And they've gaen to her a plaidie,
And she's awa wi Johny Fa,
Whatever may betide her.
5
When they came to a wan water,I wite it wasna bonny,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
6
‘Yestreen I wade this wan water,And my good lord was wi me;
The night I man cast aff my shoes and wide,
And the black bands widen wi me.
7
‘Yestreen I lay in a well made bed,And my good lord lay wi me;
The night I maun ly in a tenant's barn,
And the black bands lyin wi me.’
8
‘Come to yer bed,’ says Johnie Fa,‘Come to yer bed, my dearie,
And I shall swer, by the coat that I wear,
That my hand it shall never go near thee.’
9
‘I will never come to yer bed,I will never be yer dearie;
For I think I hear his horse's foot
That was once called my dearie.’
10
‘Come to yer bed,’ says Johny Fa,‘Come to yer bed, my dearie,
And I shall swear, by the coat that I wear,
That my hand it shall never go oer thee.’
11
‘I will niver come to yer bed,I will niver be yer dearie;
For I think I hear his bridle ring
That was once called my dearie.’
12
When that good lord came hame at night,He called for his lady;
The one maid said, and the other replied,
‘She's aff wi the Gyptian laddy.’
13
‘Ye'll saddle to me the good black steed,Tho the brown it was never so bonny;
Before that ever I eat or drink,
I shall have back my lady.’
14
‘Yestreen we were fifteen good armed men;Tho black, we werena bonny;
The night we a'ly slain for one,
It's the Laird o Corse Field's lady.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |