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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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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.’