BABYLON; OR, THE BONNIE BANKS O FORDIE—F
[_]
“In Gipsy Tents,” by Francis Hindes Groome, p. 143.
1
There were three sisters going from home,
All in a lea and alony, oh
They met a man, and he made them stand,
Down by the bonny banks of Airdrie, oh.
2
He took the first one by the hand,
He turned her round, and he made her stand.
3
Saying, Will you be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my penknife?
4
‘Oh, I wont be a robber's wife,
But I will die by your penknife.’
5
Then he took the second by her hand,
He turned her round, and he made her stand.
6
Saying, Will you be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my penknife?
7
‘Oh, I wont be a robber's wife,
But I will die by your penknife.’
8
He took the third one by the hand,
He turned her round, and he made her stand.
9
Saying, Will you be a robber's wife?
Or will you die by my penknife?
10
‘Oh, I wont be a robber's wife,
And I wont die by your penknife.
11
‘If my two brothers had been here,
You would not have killed my sisters two.’
12
‘What was your two brothers' names?’
‘One was John, and the other was James.’
13
‘Oh, what did your two brothers do?’
‘One was a minister, the other such as you.’
14
‘Oh, what is this that I have done?
I have killed my sisters, all but one.
15
‘And now I'll take out my penknife,
And here I'll end my own sweet life.’
