The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
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THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN
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[OMITTED]As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.
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[OMITTED]A stately youth of blude and lane,
[OMITTED]
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.
3
‘Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
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But ye never saw to bring him hame.’
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And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he's coming hame by West Gordon.
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And she staggerd and she stood,6
‘[OMITTED][OMITTED] wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband's blood?’
7
‘Had we been men as we are women,And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.’
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||