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.
