THE TWA BROTHERS—A
[_]
Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 56, No 19.
1
There were twa brethren in the north,
They went to the school thegither;
The one unto the other said,
Will you try a warsle afore?
2
They warsled up, they warsled down,
Till Sir John fell to the ground,
And there was a knife in Sir Willie's pouch,
Gied him a deadlie wound.
3
‘Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon burn clear,
And wash the blood from off my wound,
And it will bleed nae mair.’
4
He took him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon burn clear,
And washd the blood from off his wound,
But aye it bled the mair.
5
‘Oh brither dear, take me on your back,
Carry me to yon kirk-yard,
And dig a grave baith wide and deep,
And lay my body there.’
6
He's taen him up upon his back,
Carried him to yon kirk-yard,
And dug a grave baith deep and wide,
And laid his body there.
7
‘But what will I say to my father dear,
Gin he chance to say, Willie, whar's John?’
‘Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy him a cask of wine.’
8
‘And what will I say to my mother dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John?’
‘Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a new silk gown.’
9
‘And what will I say to my sister dear,
Gin she chance to say, Willie, whar's John?’
‘Oh say that he's to England gone,
To buy her a wedding ring.’
10
‘But what will I say to her you loe dear,
Gin she cry, Why tarries my John?’
‘Oh tell her I lie in Kirk-land fair,
And home again will never come.’
