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LAMKIN—T

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Recited to me by Ellen Healy, January 14, 1881, as sung by Moll Lochnie, a woman of about seventy, at a place near Killarney, before 1867.

1

‘Where is the lord?
or is he within?’
‘He's gone to New England,
to dine with the king.’

2

‘Where is his horses?
or where is his men?’
‘They're gone to New England,
to wait upon him.’

3

‘Where is his lady?
or is she within?’
‘She's in her bedchamber,
all in her lying in.’

4

‘Can I get at her,
with thousands of lands?
Can I get at her,
to make her understand?’

5

‘You cannot get at her,
with thousands of lands;
You cannot get at her,
to make her understand.’

6

‘Lady, come down,
and please your child,’
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

7

‘Can't you please my child
with white bread and breast-wine?’
‘O lady, come down,
and please him awhile.’

8

‘How can I go down,
this cold winter's night,
Without a fire in the kitchen,
or candle to light?’

9

‘You've got nine bright lamps,
just as bright as the king;
Lady, come down,
and light one of them.’

10

[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
False Lantin he took her
so brave in his arms.

11

Saying, Where is your friend,
or where is your foe,
That will hold the gold basin,
your heart's blood to flow?

12

‘My nurse is not my friend,
my nurse is my foe;
She'll hold the gold basin,
my heart's blood to flow.
339

13

‘O spare my life
for one summer's day,
And I'll give you as much money
as there's sand in the sea.’

14

‘I'll not spare your life
for one summer's day,
And I wont have as much money
as there's sand in the sea.’

15

‘O spare me my life
until one o'clock,
And I'll give you Queen Betsie,
the flower of the flock.’

16

‘O mama, dear mama,
then please him awhile;
My dada is coming,
he's dressed in great style.’

17

False Lantin he heard
the words from the high,
Saying, Your mama is dead,
and away I will fly.

18

‘O dada, dear dada,
do not blame me,
'Tis nurse and false Lantin
betrayed your ladie.’

19

‘I'll bury my mama
against the wall,
And I'll bury my baba,
white all, white all.’
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