University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
collapse sectionV. 
expand section114. 
expand section115. 
expand section116. 
expand section117. 
expand section118. 
expand section119. 
expand section120. 
expand section121. 
expand section122. 
expand section123. 
expand section124. 
expand section125. 
expand section126. 
expand section127. 
expand section128. 
expand section129. 
expand section130. 
expand section131. 
expand section132. 
expand section133. 
expand section134. 
expand section135. 
expand section136. 
expand section137. 
expand section138. 
expand section139. 
expand section140. 
expand section141. 
expand section142. 
expand section143. 
expand section144. 
expand section145. 
expand section146. 
expand section147. 
expand section148. 
expand section149. 
expand section150. 
expand section151. 
expand section152. 
expand section153. 
expand section154. 
expand section155. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

Bonnie Milldams o Binnorie

THE TWA SISTERS—I

[_]

Kinloch MSS, v, 425. From the recitation of M. Kinnear, 23d August, 1826.

1

There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,
Binnorie and Binnorie
There cam a squire to court them baith.
At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie

2

He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,
But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.

3

He courted the eldest with a penknife,
He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.

4

It fell ance upon a day
That these twa sisters hae gane astray.

5

It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.
[OMITTED]

6

As they walked up the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.

7

‘O sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.’

8

With a silver wand she pushd her in,
[OMITTED]

9

‘O sister, sister, tak my glove,
And ye sall hae my ain true love.’

10

The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.
It was for a water to bake her bread.

11

‘O father, father, gae slack your dam;
There's either a white fish or a swan.’
[OMITTED]

12

Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,
And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.

13

And the first spring that he playd,
It said, ‘It was my sister threw me in.’