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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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209

Lord Lovel

LORD LOVEL—D

[_]

Kinloch MSS, VII, 83, from the recitation of a lady of Roxburghshire; Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 31.

1

Lord Lovel stands at his stable-door,
Mounted upon a grey steed,
And bye cam Ladie Nanciebel,
And wishd Lord Lovel much speed.

2

‘O whare are ye going, Lord Lovel?
My dearest, tell unto me:’
‘I am going a far journey,
Some strange countrey to see.

3

‘But I'll return in seven long years,
Lady Nanciebel to see:’
‘Oh seven, seven, seven long years,
They are much too long for me.’
[OMITTED]

4

He was gane about a year away,
A year but barely ane,
Whan a strange fancy cam intil his head
That faire Nanciebel was gane.

5

It's then he rade, and better rade,
Untill he cam to the toun,
And there he heard a dismal noise,
For the church bells au did soun.

6

He asked what the bells rang for;
They said, It's for Nanciebel;
She died for a discourteous squire,
And his name is Lord Lovel.

7

The lid of the coffin he opened up,
The linens he faulded doun,
And ae he kissd her pale, pale lips,
And the tears cam trinkling doun.

8

‘Weill may I kiss these pale, pale lips,
For they will never kiss me;
I'll mak a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll neer kiss ane but thee.’

9

Lady Nancie died on Tuesday's nicht,
Lord Lovel upon the niest day;
Lady Nancie died for pure, pure love,
Lord Lovel for deep sorraye.