Jean o Bethelnie's Love for Sir G. Gordon; or,
Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—E
[_]
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 188.
b. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 54.
1
There were four-and-twenty ladies dined i the Queen's ha,
And Jean o Bethelnie was the flower o them a'.
2
Four-and-twenty gentlemen rode thro Banchory fair,
But bonny Glenlogie was the flower that was there.
3
Young Jean at a window she chanced to sit nigh,
And upon Glenlogie she fixed an eye.
4
She calld on his best man, unto him did say,
O what is that knight's name? or where does he stay?
5
‘He's of the noble Gordons, of great birth and fame;
He stays at Glenlogie, Sir George is his name.’
6
Then she wrote a broad letter, and wrote it in haste;
To send to Glenlogie, she thought it was best.
7
Says, O brave Glenlogie, unto me be kind;
I've laid my love on you, and told you my mind.
8
Then reading the letter, as he stood on the green,
Says, I leave you to judge, sirs; what does women mean?
9
Then turnd about sprightly, as the Gordons do a':
‘Lay not your love on me, I'm promisd awa.’
10
When she heard this answer, her heart was like to break,
That she laid her love on him, and him so ungrate.
11
Then she calld on her maidens to lay her to bed,
And take her fine jewels and lay them aside.
12
‘My seals and my signets, no more shall I crave;
But linen and trappin, a chest and a grave.’
13
Her father stood by her, possessëd with fear
To see his dear daughter possessëd with care.
14
Says, Hold your tongue, Jeannie, let all your folly be;
I'll wed you to Dumfedline, he is better than he.
15
‘O hold your tongue, father, and let me alane;
If I getna Glenlogie, I'll never have ane.
16
‘His bonny jimp middle, his black rolling eye,
If I getna Glenlogie, I'm sure I shall die.’
17
But her father's old chaplain, a man of great skill,
He wrote a broad letter, and pennëd it well.
18
Saying, O brave Glenlogie, why must it be so?
A maid's love laid on you, shall she die in her woe?
19
Then reading the letter, his heart was like to break
That such a leal virgin should die for his sake.
20
Then he calld on his footman, and likewise his groom,
Says, Get my horse saddled and bridlëd soon.
21
Before the horse was saddled and brought to the yate,
Bonnie Glenlogie was five miles on foot.
22
When he came to Bethelnie, he saw nothing there
But weeping and wailing, vexation and care.
23
Then out spake her father, with the tear in his ee,
You're welcome, Glenlogie, you're welcome to me.
24
‘If ye make me welcome, as welcome's ye say,
Ye'll show me the chamber where Jeannie does lay.’
25
Then one o her maidens took him by the hand,
To show him the chamber where Jeannie lay in.
26
Before that she saw him, she was pale and wan;
But when she did see him, she grew ruddy again.
27
‘O turn, bonny Jeannie, turn you to your side;
For I'll be the bridegroom, and ye'll be the bride.’
28
When Jeannie was married, her tocher down tauld,
Bonny Jean o Bethelnie was fifteen years auld.
