Burd Alone
CHILD WATERS—H
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 277, from Marjory Johnston, servant
to W. Parker, manufacturer, Paisley.
1
‘Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
For the water's both broad and long:’
First she went into the shoulders,
And sine unto the chin.
2
‘How far is it to your hall, Lord John?
How far is it? I pray of thee:’
‘The nearest way unto my hall
Is thirty miles and three.
3
‘Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
Ye'll sink before ye win owre:’
‘I am too big with bairn,’ she says,
‘To sink or I win owre.’
4
‘Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,
Turn back, I pray of thee;
For I've got a wife and seven bairns,
I like far better than thee.’
5
And then spak a wild parrot,
Sat high upon the tree:
‘Gang on, gang on, O Burd Alone,
[He likes nane better nor thee.]
6
‘For Lord John has neither wife nor bairns,
He likes better than thee,
And the nearest way to Lord John's hall
Is only short miles three.’
7
When she was come to Lord John's hall,
Lords, knights and ladies braw
Was there to welcome them hame;
But the bravest in the ha,
She waited at Lord John's back,
Serving the tables a'.
8
When she was laid into her bed,
Amang the servants a' ilk ane,
The mother heard a babie greet,
And a lady make a heavy maen.
9
‘Rise up, rise up, Lord John,’ she said,
‘Bind on thy hose and shoon;
Thow might hae got some other lady
Than a lady big wi bairn.’
10
Lord John awa to the hay-loft,
Where his lady lay;
‘O rise, O rise, my love,’ he says,
‘O rise and let me in;
It's I have got no loves without,
But I've got one within.’
11
‘I ask three favours of you, Lord John,
I ask three favours of thee;
I ask a bottle of your sma, sma beer,
For your old son and me.’
12
‘O rise, O rise, my love,’ he says,
‘O rise and let me in;
My wine and gin is at your command,
And that of my old son.’
13
‘The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,
The next favour I ask of thee,
Is the meanest room in all your house,
For your young son and me.
14
‘The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,
The next favour I ask of thee,
Is the meanest maid in a' your house,
To wait on your yong son and me.’
15
‘O rise, O rise, my love,’ he says,
‘O rise and let me in;
For thy bridal and thy banquet day
Shall both be held in ane.’
