The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
129
The Bonnie Milldams of Binnorie
THE TWA SISTERS—D
1
There lived three sisters in a bouer,Edinbruch, Edinbruch
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
Stirling for aye
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
The youngest was the sweetest flowr.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
2
There cam a knicht to see them a',And on the youngest his love did fa.
3
He brought the eldest ring and glove,But the youngest was his ain true-love.
4
He brought the second sheath and knife,But the youngest was to be his wife.
5
The eldest sister said to the youngest ane,‘Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?’
6
And as they walked by the linn,The eldest dang the youngest in.
7
‘O sister, sister, tak my hand,And ye'll be heir to a' my land.’
8
‘Foul fa the hand that I wad take,To twin me o my warld's make.’
9
‘O sister, sister, tak my glove,And yese get Willie, my true-love.’
10
‘Sister, sister, I'll na tak your glove,For I'll get Willie, your true-love.’
11
Aye she swittert, and aye she swam,Till she cam to yon bonnie mill-dam.
12
The miller's dochter cam out wi speed,It was for water, to bake her bread.
13
‘O father, father, gae slack your dam;There's in't a lady or a milk-white swan.’
14
They could na see her coal-black eyesFor her yellow locks hang oure her brees.
15
They could na see her weel-made middleFor her braid gowden girdle.
16
And by there cam an auld blind fiddler,And took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.
17
The first spring that the bonnie fiddle playd,‘Hang my cruel sister, Alison,’ it said.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||