The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
The Child of Ell
EARL BRAND—F
1
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
Sayes ‘Christ thee saue, good Child of Ell!
Christ saue thee and thy steede!
2
‘My father sayes he will [eat] noe meate,Nor his drinke shall doe him noe good,
Till he haue slaine the Child of Ell,
And haue seene his harts blood.’
3
‘I would I were in my sadle sett,And a mile out of the towne;
104
And all his merry men!
4
‘I wold I were in my sadle sett,And a little space him froe;
I did not care for your father
And all that long him to!’
5
He leaned ore his saddle bowTo kisse this lady good;
The teares that went them two betweene
Were blend water and blood.
6
He sett himselfe on one good steed,This lady on a palfray,
And sett his litle horne to his mouth,
And roundlie he rode away.
7
He had not ridden past a mile,A mile out of the towne,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
8
Her father was readye with her seuen brether,He said, ‘Sett thou my daughter downe!
For it ill beseemes thee, thou false churles sonne,
To carry her forth of this towne!’
9
‘But lowd thou lyest, Sir Iohn the knight,Thou now doest lye of me;
A knight me gott, and a lady me bore;
Soe neuer did none by thee.
10
‘But light now downe, my lady gay,Light downe and hold my horsse,
Whilest I and your father and your brether
Doe play vs at this crosse.
11
‘But light now downe, my owne trew loue,And meeklye hold my steede,
Whilest your father [and your seuen brether] bold
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||