University of Virginia Library

previous section The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
next section

The Knight and Lady

THE BAFFLED KNIGHT—E

[_]

Motherwell's MS., p. 410: from the singing of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan, September, 1825.

1

There was a knight, was drunk with wine,
Came riding along the way, sir;
He would have had a lady gay
Amang the quiles of hay, sir.

2

‘What if I should lay thee down,
Amang the quiles of hay, maid?
Sheets nor blankets have I none,
To keep thy cloathing clean, maid.’

3

‘The wind blaws east, the wind blaws west,
The wind blaws owre yon thorn, sir;
Weel may I wash my cloathing clear,
And dry them on the morn, sir.’

4

‘What if I should lay thee down,
Amang the rigs of corn, maid?
Then the king's life-guard will come,
And steal our steeds away, maid.’

5

‘I have ten gold rings on my hand,
They're all gold but the stone, sir;
I'll give them to the king's life-guard,
If he'll let our steeds alone, sir.

6

‘But see you not yon sunny bank,
Over yon lily lea, sir,
Where you and I may crack a while,
And never one may see, sir?’

7

He was on a milk-white steed,
And she was on another,
And all the live-long winter night
They rode like sister and brother.

8

When they came to that sunny bank,
He began to lay her down, sir;
‘O no, O no, kind sir,’ she says,
‘Ye'll ruffle all my gown, sir.

9

‘My gown it cost my father dear,
'Twas many a mark and pound, sir;
And if that ye do lay me down,
Ye'll ruffle all my gown, sir.

10

‘But see ye na yon fair castel,
Over yon lily lea, sir,
Where you and I may crack a while,
And never one may see, sir?’

11

He was on a milk-white steed,
And she was on another,
And all the live-long winter night
They rode like sister and brother.

12

When they came to that fair castel,
She was at her father's yet, sir;
She jumped in at her father's door,
And left this knight without, sir.

13

She says, I am a maid within,
You're but a knave without, sir;
There were neer a butcher's son
Put me in so much doubt, sir.

14

‘Oh if I had thee out,’ he said,
‘But two miles from the town, maid,
I would lay thee down,’ he said,
‘And never mind thy gown, maid.’

15

‘There is a flower in my father's garden,
The name o't marigold, sir,
And he that would not when he might,
He shall not when he wold, sir.

16

‘But when eer ye meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from a town, sir,
Ye may lay her down,’ she says,
‘And never mind her gown, sir.
489

17

‘Ye're like unto my father's steed;
He's standing in the lone, sir;
He hings his head above the sheaf,
But daur not venture on, sir.

18

‘When eer ye meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from the town, sir,
Ye may lay her down,’ she says,
‘And never mind her gown, sir.

19

‘There is a cock in my father's flock,
He wears a double comb, sir,
He claps his wings, but craweth not;
I fear you be like him, sir.

20

‘But when eer you meet a pretty maid,
And two miles from a town, sir,
You may lay her down,’ she said,
‘And never mind her gown, sir.’
previous section The English and Scottish Popular Ballads
next section