The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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| IX. |
 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
Lord William
FAIR JANET—D
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 271, “from Margery Johnston, who had it of her grand-aunt, a very old woman.”
1
‘It never was my mother's fashion,As little will't be mine,
For to hae gay lords within my room
When ladies are travailing.’
2
Lord William was scarsely down the stair,A step but only ane,
Till he heard his auld son gie a cry,
And his lady a heavy maen.
3
‘Turn back, turn back, Lord William,’ she says,‘Take thy auld son in thy coat-neuk,
And see and reach thy mother's bowers
Twa hours before day comes.’
4
He's awa wi his auld son in his coat-neuk,As fast as he can run,
And there he's reached his mother's bowers,
Twa hours before day came.
5
‘O rise, O rise, my mother dear,O rise and let me in,
For I've my auld son in my coat-neuk,
And he shivers at the chin.’
6
‘Ye're welcome hame to me, Lord William,And so is thy auld son;
It's where ye had but ae nourice,
Thy auld son he'll hae four.’
7
His lady was scarsely in her bed,Nor well faln owre asleep,
When four and twenty knights and lords
Came for the bride at last.
8
They dressed her up, they dressed her down,They dressed her wondrous fine,
And just before her ain bedside
She lost her colour clean.
9
‘Be hooly wi my head, maidens,Be hooly wi my hair,
For it was washen late last night,
And now it's very sair.’
10
Out then spoke a southern lord,And oh but he spak bauld:
‘She is the likest that bore a child
That eer my eyes did see.’
11
Up then spak her auld, auld father,And oh he spoke in time:
‘She neer bore a child since her birth
Except it was yestreen.’
12
Out then spoke a northern lord:‘It's bride, will ye dance wi me?’
‘Oh no, oh no, you northland lord,
It's dancing's no for me.’
13
Out then spoke a southland lord:‘It's bride, will ye dance wi me?’
‘Oh no, oh no, you southland lord,
I would as lief chuse to die.’
14
Out then spoke her ain bridegroom:‘O bride, will ye dance wi me?’
‘Oh no, oh no, my ain bridegroom,
It's dancing's no for me.’
15
Out then spoke her ain Willy,And oh he spoke fu fine:
‘O bride, O bride, will ye dance wi me,’
[OMITTED]
16
‘Oh yes, oh yes, Willie,’ she said,‘It's I will dance with thee;
Oh yes, I'll dance, dear Willie,’ she said,
‘Tho my back it gaes in three.’
17
She leaned her head on Willie's breast,And her back unto the wa:
‘O there's the key of my coffer,
And pay weel the nouriss fee,
And aye when ye look on your auld son,
Ye may aye think on me.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |