The English and Scottish Popular Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

Part I.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

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THE BROWN GIRL—B

[_]

Taken down lately by Rev. S. Baring-Gould from a blacksmith, parish of Thrushleton, Devon.

1

‘I am as brown as brown can be,
And my eyes as black as sloe;
I am as brisk as brisk can be,
And wild as forest doe.

2

‘My love he was so high and proud,
His fortune too so high,
He for another fair pretty maid
Me left and passed me by.

3

‘Me did he send a love-letter,
He sent it from the town,
Saying no more he loved me,
For that I was so brown.

4

‘I sent his letter back again,
Saying his love I valued not,
Whether that he would fancy me,
Whether that he would not.

5

‘When that six months were overpassd,
Were overpassd and gone,
Then did my lover, once so bold,
Lie on his bed and groan.

6

‘When that six months were overpassd,
Were gone and overpassd,
O then my lover, once so bold,
With love was sick at last.

7

‘First sent he for the doctor-man:
‘You, doctor, me must cure;
The pains that now do torture me
I can not long endure.’

8

‘Next did he send from out the town,
O next did send for me;
He sent for me, the brown, brown girl
Who once his wife should be.

9

‘O neer a bit the doctor-man
His sufferings could relieve;
O never an one but the brown, brown girl
Who could his life reprieve.’

10

Now you shall hear what love she had
For this poor love-sick man,
How all one day, a summer's day,
She walked and never ran.

168

11

When that she came to his bedside,
Where he lay sick and weak,
O then for laughing she could not stand
Upright upon her feet.

12

‘You flouted me, you scouted me,
And many another one;
Now the reward is come at last,
For all that you have done.’

13

The rings she took from off her hands,
The rings by two and three:
‘O take, O take these golden rings,
By them remember me.’

14

She had a white wand in her hand,
She strake him on the breast:
‘My faith and troth I give back to thee,
So may thy soul have rest.’

15

‘Prithee,’ said he, ‘forget, forget,
Prithee forget, forgive;
O grant me yet a little space,
That I may be well and live.’

16

‘O never will I forget, forgive,
So long as I have breath;
I'll dance above your green, green grave
Where you do lie beneath.’