The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
The Deil's Courting
THE ELFIN KNIGHT—I
1
A lady wonned on yonder hill,Hee ba and balou ba
And she had musick at her will.
And the wind has blown my plaid awa
2
Up and cam an auld, auld man,Wi his blue bonnet in his han.
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3
‘I will ask ye questions three;Resolve them, or ye'll gang wi me.
4
‘Ye maun mak to me a sark,It maun be free o woman's wark.
5
‘Ye maun shape it knife-sheerless,And ye maun sew it needle-threedless.
6
‘Ye maun wash it in yonder well,Whare rain nor dew has ever fell.
7
‘Ye maun dry it on yonder thorn,Where leaf neer grew since man was born.’
8
‘I will ask ye questions three;Resolve them, or ye'll neer get me.
9
‘I hae a rig o bonnie landAtween the saut sea and the sand.
10
‘Ye maun plow it wi ae horse bane,And harrow it wi ae harrow pin.
11
‘Ye maun shear't wi a whang o leather,And ye maun bind't bot strap or tether.
12
‘Ye maun stack it in the sea,And bring the stale hame dry to me.
13
‘Ye maun mak a cart o stane,And yoke the wren and bring it hame.
14
‘Ye maun thresh't atween your lufes,And ye maun sack't atween your thies.’
15
‘My curse on those wha learnëd thee;This night I weend ye'd gane wi me.’
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||