University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
collapse sectionVI. 
expand section156. 
expand section157. 
expand section158. 
expand section159. 
expand section160. 
expand section161. 
expand section162. 
expand section163. 
expand section164. 
expand section165. 
expand section166. 
expand section167. 
expand section168. 
expand section169. 
expand section170. 
expand section171. 
expand section172. 
collapse section173. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section174. 
expand section175. 
expand section176. 
expand section177. 
expand section178. 
expand section179. 
expand section180. 
expand section181. 
expand section182. 
expand section183. 
expand section184. 
expand section185. 
expand section186. 
expand section187. 
expand section188. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

Walter Lesly

[_]

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 139.

1

On the second of October, a Monday at noon,
In came Walter Lesly, to see his proper one;
He set a chair down by her side, and gently sat her by,
Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?

2

He's taen a glass into his hand, inviting her to drink,
But little knew she his meaning, or what the rogue did think;
Nor what the rogue did think, to steal the maid away;
‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’

169

3

When they had taen a glass or two, and all were making merry,
In came Geordy Lesly, and forth he did her carry;
Then upon high horseback sae hard's he did her tye,
‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’

4

Her mother she came to the door, the saut tears on her cheek,
She coudna see her daughter, it was for dust and reek;
It was for dust and reek, the swords they glancd sae high;
‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’

5

When they came to the ale-house, the people there were busy;
A bridal-bed it was well made, and supper well made ready;
When the supper down was set, baith plumpudding and pie,
‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’

6

When they had eaten and well drunken, and a' man bound for bed,
The laddie and the lassie in ae chamber were laid;
He quickly stript her to the smock, and gently laid her bye,
Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?

7

But Walter being weary, he fell fast asleep,
And then the lassie thought it fit to start up till her feet;
To start up till her feet, and her petticoats to tye,
‘We'll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’

8

Then over moss and over muir sae cleverly she ran,
And over hill and over dale, without stockings or shoon;
The men pursued her full fast, wi mony shout and cry,
Says, Will ye go to Conland, the winter-time to lye.

9

‘Wae to the dubs o Duffus land, that eer they were sae deep;
They've trachled a' our horsemen and gart our captain sleep;
And gart our captain sleep, and the lassie win away,
And she'll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’

10

‘I'd rather be in Duffus land, selling at the ale,
Before I was wi Lesly, for a' his auld meal;
For a' his auld meal, and sae mony comes to buy;
I'll go no more to Conland the winter-time to lye.

11

‘I'd rather be in Duffus land, dragging at the ware,
Before I was wi Lesly, for a' his yellow hair;
For a' his yellow hair, and sae well's he can it tye;
I'll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.’

12

It was not for her beauty, nor yet her gentle bluid,
But for her mither's dollars, of them he had great need;
Of them he had great need, now he maun do them by,
For she'll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.