The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
Earl of Aboyne; or, Bonny Peggy Irvine
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—I
1
The Earl of Aboyne to London has gone,And all his nobles with him;
For all the braw ribbands he wore at his hat,
He has left his lady behind him.
2
She has to her high castle gane,To see if she saw him coming;
And who did she spy but her own servant Jack,
Coming riding home again from London.
3
‘What news, what news, my own servant Jack?What news have you got from London?’
‘Good news, good news, my lady,’ he says,
‘For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.’
4
She has to her kitchen-maid gane:‘Set your pots and your pans all a boiling;
Have every thing fine for gentry to dine,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.
5
‘Stable-grooms all, pray be well employed,Set your stable-bells all a ringing;
Let your hecks be overlaid with the finest of good hay,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.’
6
She has to her low gates gane,To see if she saw him coming,
And long seven miles before they came to town
She heard their bridles ringing.
7
‘Come kiss me, come kiss me, madam,’ he says,‘Come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my wedding-day
Had I staid any longer in London.’
8
She's turned about with an angry look,Says, Woe's me for thy coming!
If the morn should hae been your wedding-day,
Go back and kiss your whores in London.
9
They've turned their horses' heads around,Their faces all for London;
With their hands to their hats they all rode off,
And they're all away to London.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||