The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
THE GYPSY LADDIE—L
[_]
Communicated to the Journal of The Gypsy Society, II, 85, by Mr John Sampson, from the dictation of Lias Robinson, a Gypsy. A translation into Gypsy, by Robinson and his brothers, is given at p. 84 of the same.
1
A band of gypsies, all in a road,All so black and brawny, oh
Away come a lady all dressed in silk,
To follow the roving gypsies. oh
The gypsies, oh!
The gypsies, oh!
To follow the roving gypsies, oh!
2
Her husband came home at ten o'clock of night,And asked for his lady fair;
The servant informed him very soon
She had gone with the roving gypsies.
3
‘Saddle to me my bonny gray mare,Saddle to me my pony;
I will go where the green grass grow,
To find out the roving gypsies.
4
‘Last night she slept in a fair feather-bed,And blankets by bonins;
Tonight she sleeps in a cold shed-barn,
Through following the roving gypsies.
5
‘Why did you leave your houses and your lands?Why did you leave your babies?
Why did you leave your decent married man,
To follow the roving gypsies?’
6
‘What cares I for my houses and my lands?What cares I for my babies?
What cares I for my decent married man?
I will go with the roving gypsies.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |