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Auld Carle Hood; or, Earl Brand

EARL BRAND—H

[_]

Campbell MSS, II, 32.

1

Did you ever hear of good Earl Brand,
Aye lally an lilly lally
And the king's daughter of fair Scotland?
And the braw knights o Airly

2

She was scarce fifteen years of age
When she came to Earl Brand's bed.
Wi the braw knights o Airly

3

‘O Earl Brand, I fain wad see
Our grey hounds run over the lea.’
Mang the braw bents o Airly

4

‘O,’ says Earl Brand, ‘I've nae steads but one,
And you shall ride and I shall run.’
Oer the braw heights o Airly

5

‘O,’ says the lady, ‘I hae three,
And ye shall hae yeer choice for me.’
Of the braw steeds o Airly

6

So they lap on, and on they rade,
Till they came to auld Carle Hood.
Oer the braw hills o Airly

7

Carl Hood's aye for ill, and he's no for good,
He's aye for ill, and he's no for good.
Mang the braw hills o Airly

8

‘Where hae ye been hunting a' day,
And where have ye stolen this fair may?’
I' the braw nights sae airly

9

‘She is my sick sister dear,
New comd home from another sister.’
I the braw nights sae early

10

‘O,’ says the lady, ‘if ye love me,
Gie him a penny fee and let him gae.’
I the braw nights sae early

11

He's gane home to her father's bower,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

12

‘Where is the lady o this ha?’
‘She's out wi the young maids, playing at the ba.’
I the braw nights so early

13

‘No,’ says another, ‘she's riding oer the moor,
And a' to be Earl Brand's whore.’
I the braw nights so early

14

The king mounted fifteen weel armed men,
A' to get Earl Brand taen.
I the braw hills so early

15

The lady looked over her white horse mane:
‘O Earl Brand, we will be taen.’
In the braw hills so early

16

He says, If they come one by one,
Ye'll no see me so soon taen.
In the braw hills so early

17

So they came every one but one,
And he has killd them a' but ane.
In the braw hills so early

18

And that one came behind his back,
And gave Earl Brand a deadly stroke.
In the braw hills of Airly

19

For as sair wounded as he was,
He lifted the lady on her horse.
In the braw nights so early

20

‘O Earl Brand, I see thy heart's bluid!’
‘It's but the shadow of my scarlet robe.’
I the braw nights so early

21

He came to his mother's home;
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

22

She looked out and cryd her son was gone,
And a' for the sake [of] an English loon. [OMITTED]

23

‘What will I do wi your lady fair?’
‘Marry her to my eldest brother.’
The brawest knight i Airly
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