The Shepherd's Son; or,
Blow the Winds, Heigh ho!
THE BAFFLED KNIGHT—D
[_]
a. Herd's Ancient and Modern Scots, p. 328, 1769. b.
Dixon, Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry
of England, p. 123, Percy Society, vol. xvii; Bell, p. 80.
1
There was a shepherd's son
Kept sheep upon a hill;
He laid his pipe and crook aside,
And there he slept his fill.
Sing, Fal deral, etc.
2
He looked east, he looked west,
Then gave an under-look,
And there he spyed a lady fair,
Swimming in a brook.
3
He raisd his head frae his green bed,
And then approachd the maid;
‘Put on your claiths, my dear,’ he says,
‘And be ye not afraid.
4
‘'Tis fitter for a lady fair
To sew her silken seam
Than to get up in a May morning
And strive against the stream.’
5
‘If you'll not touch my mantle,
And let my claiths alane,
Then I'll give you as much money
As you can carry hame.’
6
‘O I'll not touch your mantle,
And I'll let your claiths alane;
But I'll tak you out of the clear water,
My dear, to be my ain.’
7
And when she out of the water came,
He took her in his arms:
‘Put on your claiths, my dear,’ he says,
‘And hide those lovely charms.’
8
He mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself upon anither,
And all along the way they rode,
Like sister and like brither.
9
When she came to her father's yate
She tirled at the pin,
And ready stood the porter there,
To let this fair maid in.
10
And when the gate was opened,
So nimbly's she whipt in;
‘Pough! you're a fool without,’ she says,
‘And I'm a maid within.
11
‘Then fare ye well, my modest boy,
I thank you for your care;
But had you done what you should do,
I neer had left you there.’
12
‘Oh I'll cast aff my hose and shoon,
And let my feet gae bare,
And gin I meet a bonny lass,
Hang me if her I spare.’
13
‘In that do as you please,’ she says,
‘But you shall never more
Have the same opportunity;’
With that she shut the door.
14
There is a gude auld proverb,
I've often heard it told,
He that would not when he might,
He should not when he would.
