The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
291
CHILD OWLET
Childe Owlet
157
1
Lady Erskine sits in her chamber,Sewing at her silken seam,
A chain of gold for Childe Owlet,
As he goes out and in.
2
But it fell ance upon a dayShe unto him did say,
Ye must cuckold Lord Ronald,
For a' his lands and ley.
3
‘O cease! forbid, madam,’ he says,‘That this should eer be done!
How would I cuckold Lord Ronald,
And me his sister's son?’
4
Then she's ta'en out a little penknife,That lay below her bed,
Put it below her green stay's cord,
Which made her body bleed.
5
Then in it came him Lord Ronald,Hearing his lady's moan;
‘What blood is this, my dear,’ he says,
‘That sparks on the fire-stone?’
6
‘Young Childe Owlet, your sister's son,Is now gane frae my bower;
If I hadna been a good woman,
I'd been Childe Owlet's whore.’
7
Then he has taen him Childe Owlet,Laid him in prison strong,
And all his men a council held
How they woud work him wrong.
8
Some said they woud Childe Owlet hang,Some said they woud him burn;
Some said they woud have Childe Owlet
Between wild horses torn.
9
‘There are horses in your stables standCan run right speedilie,
And ye will to your stable go,
And wile out four for me.’
10
They put a foal to ilka foot,And ane to ilka hand,
And sent them down to Darling muir,
As fast as they coud gang.
11
There was not a kow in Darling muir,Nor ae piece o a rind,
But drappit o Childe Owlet's blude
And pieces o his skin.
12
There was not a kow in Darling muir,Nor ae piece o a rash,
But drappit o Childe Owlet's blude
And pieces o his flesh.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||