The Goulden Vanitie; or,
The French Galley; or,
The Lowlands Low
THE SWEET TRINITY (THE GOLDEN VANITY)—B
[_]
a. Logan's Pedlar's Pack, p. 42, as sung about 1840 by
Mr P. S. Fraser, of Edinburgh, and obtained by him orally.
b. As sung by Mr George Du Maurier to Mr J. R. Lowell,
1884. c. Motherwell's MS., p. 420; from Mr John Cleland,
marble-cutter, Glasgow, who had it of Mr Forrester,
Stirling. d. Communicated by Mrs Moncrieff, as taught
to a relative of hers by an old Scottish lady about 1830.
e. Findlay MSS, I, 161, “from Strang, Divinity Student,
1868.” f. Sharpe's Ballad Book, 1880, p. 160, note by Sir
Walter Scott.
1
There was a gallant ship, and a gallant ship was she
Eck iddle du, and the Lowlands low
And she was called The Goulden Vanitie.
As she sailed to the Lowlands low
2
She had not sailed a league, a league but only three,
Eck, etc.
When she came up with a French gallee.
As she sailed, etc.
3
Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
‘What will you give me if I sink that French gallee?’
As ye sail, etc.
4
Out spoke the captain, out spoke he;
‘We'll gie ye an estate in the North Countrie.’
As we sail, etc.
5
‘Then row me up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And throw me oer deck-buird, sink I or swim.’
As ye sail, etc.
6
So they've rowed him up ticht in a black bull's skin,
And have thrown him oer deck-buird, sink he or soom.
As they sail, etc.
7
About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam up with the French gallee.
As they sailed, etc.
8
O some were playing cards, and some were playing dice,
When he took out an instrument, bored thirty holes at twice.
As they sailed, etc.
9
Then some they ran with cloaks, and some they ran with caps,
To try if they could stap the saut-water draps.
As they sailed, etc.
10
About, and about, and about went he,
Until he cam back to The Goulden Vanitie.
As they sailed, etc.
11
‘Now throw me oer a rope and pu me up on buird,
And prove unto me as guid as your word.’
As ye sail, etc.
12
‘We'll no throw you oer a rope, nor pu you up on buird,
Nor prove unto you as guid as our word.’
As we sail, etc.
13
Out spoke the little cabin-boy, out spoke he;
Then hang me, I'll sink ye as I sunk the French gallee.
As ye sail, etc.
14
But they've thrown him oer a rope, and have pu'd him up on buird,
And have proved unto him far better than their word.
As they sailed, etc.
