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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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Bonnie Milldams o Binnorie

THE TWA SISTERS—I

[_]

Kinloch MSS, v, 425. From the recitation of M. Kinnear, 23d August, 1826.

1

There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,
Binnorie and Binnorie
There cam a squire to court them baith.
At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie

2

He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,
But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.

3

He courted the eldest with a penknife,
He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.

4

It fell ance upon a day
That these twa sisters hae gane astray.

5

It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.
[OMITTED]

6

As they walked up the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.

7

‘O sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.’

8

With a silver wand she pushd her in,
[OMITTED]

9

‘O sister, sister, tak my glove,
And ye sall hae my ain true love.’

10

The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.
It was for a water to bake her bread.

11

‘O father, father, gae slack your dam;
There's either a white fish or a swan.’
[OMITTED]

12

Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,
And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.

13

And the first spring that he playd,
It said, ‘It was my sister threw me in.’