The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
Lambkin
LAMKIN—E
1
Lambkin was as good a masonas ever laid stone;
He builded Lord Montgomery's castle,
but payment got none.
2
He builded the castlewithout and within;
But he left an open wake
for himself to get in.
3
Lord Montgomery said to his lady,when he went abroad,
Take care of Bold Lambkin,
for he is in the wood.
4
‘Gar bolt the gate, nourice,without and within,
Leave not the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in.’
5
She bolted the gates,without and within,
But she left the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in.
6
‘Gude morrow, gude morrow,’says Bold Lambkin then;
‘Gude morrow, gude morrow,’
says the false nurse to him.
7
‘Where is Lord Montgomery?or where is he gone?’
‘He is gone up to England,
to wait on the king.’
8
‘Where are the servants?and where are they gone?’
‘They are all up to England,
to wait upon him.’
9
‘Where is your lady?or where is she gone?’
‘She is in her bower sitting,
and sewing her seam.’
328
10
‘O what shall we dofor to make her come down?’
‘We'll kill the pretty baby,
that's sleeping so sound.’
11
Lambkin he rocked,and the false nurse she sung,
And she stabbed the babe to the heart
with a silver bodkin.
12
‘O still my babe, nourice,O still him with the pap:’
‘He'll no be stilled, madam,
for this nor for that.’
13
‘O still my babe, nourice,go still him with the keys:’
‘He'll no be stilled, madam,
let me do what I please.’
14
‘O still my babe, nourice,go still him with the bell:’
‘He'll no be stilled, madam,
till you come down yoursel.’
15
‘How can I come down,this cold winter night,
When there's neither coal burning,
nor yet candle-light?’
16
‘The sark on your backis whiter than the swan;
Come down the stair, lady,
by the light of your hand.’
17
The lady she cam downthe stair trip for trap;
Who so ready as Bold Lambkin
to meet her in the dark?
18
‘Gude morrow, gude morrow,’said Bold Lambkin then;
‘Gude morrow, gude morrow,’
said the lady to him.
19
‘O where is Lord Montgomery?or where is he gone?’
‘O he is up to England,
to wait on the king.’
20
‘O where are your servants?or where are they gone?’
‘They are all up to England,
to wait upon him.
21
‘I'll give you as much gold, Lambkin,as you'll put in a peck,
If you'll spare my life
till my lord comes back.’
22
‘Tho you would [give] me as muchas I could put in a sack,
I would not spare thy life
till thy lord comes back.’
23
Lord Montgomery sate in England,drinking with the king;
The buttons flew off his coat,
all in a ring.
24
‘God prosper, God prospermy lady and son!
For before I get home
they will all be undone.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |