{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/boeb/boeb26.htm","path":"neu/eng/boeb/boeb26.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/boeb/boeb26.htm","text":"LATE at e'en, drinking the wine,\n \u00a0\u00a0And ere they paid the lawing,\n They set a combat them between,\n \u00a0\u00a0To fight it in the dawing.\n\"What though ye be my sister's lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0We'll cross our swords to-morrow.\"\n \"What though my wife your sister be,\n \u00a0\u00a0I'll meet ye then on Yarrow.\"\n\"O stay at hame, my ain gude lord!\n \u00a0\u00a0O stay, my ain dear marrow!\n My cruel brither will you betray\n \u00a0\u00a0On the dowie banks o' Yarrow.\"\n\"O fare ye weel, my lady dear!\n \u00a0\u00a0And put aside your sorrow;\n For if I gae, I'll sune return\n \u00a0\u00a0Frae the bonny banks o' Yarrow.\"\nShe kiss'd his cheek, she kaim'd his hair,\n \u00a0\u00a0As oft she'd done before, O;\n She belted him wi' his gude brand,\n \u00a0\u00a0And he's awa' to Yarrow.\nWhen he gaed up the Tennies bank,\n \u00a0\u00a0As he gaed mony a morrow,\n Nine armed men lay in a den,\n \u00a0\u00a0On the dowie braes o' Yarrow.\n\"O come ye here to hunt or hawk\n \u00a0\u00a0The bonny Forest thorough?\n Or come ye here to wield your brand\n \u00a0\u00a0Upon the banks o' Yarrow?\"\n\"I come not here to hunt or hawk,\n \u00a0\u00a0As oft I've dune before, O,\n But I come here to wield my brand\n \u00a0\u00a0Upon the banks o' Yarrow.\n\"If ye attack me nine to ane,\n \u00a0\u00a0Then may God send ye sorrow!--\n Yet will I fight while stand I may,\n \u00a0\u00a0On the bonny banks o' Yarrow.\"\nTwo has he hurt, and three has slain,\n \u00a0\u00a0On the bloody braes o' Yarrow;\n But the stubborn knight crept in behind,\n \u00a0\u00a0And pierced his body thorough.\n\"Gae hame, gae hame, you brither John,\n \u00a0\u00a0And tell your sister sorrow,--\n To come and lift her leafu' lord\n \u00a0\u00a0On the dowie banks o' Yarrow.\"\nHer brither John gaed ower yon hill,\n \u00a0\u00a0As oft he'd dune before, O;\n There he met his sister dear,\n \u00a0\u00a0Cam' rinnin' fast to Yarrow.\n\"I dreamt a dream last night,\" she says,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"I wish it binna sorrow;\n I dreamt I pu'd the heather green\n \u00a0\u00a0Wi' my true love on Yarrow.\"\n\"I'll read your dream, sister,\" he says,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"I'll read it into sorrow;\n Ye're bidden go take up your love,\n \u00a0\u00a0He's sleeping sound on Yarrow.\"\nShe's torn the ribbons frae her head\n \u00a0\u00a0That were baith braid and narrow;\n She's kilted up her lang claithing,\n \u00a0\u00a0And she's awa' to Yarrow.\nShe's ta'en him in her arms twa,\n \u00a0\u00a0And gi'en him kisses thorough;\n She sought to bind his mony wounds,\n \u00a0\u00a0But he lay dead on Yarrow.\n\"O haud your tongue,\" her father says,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"And let be a' your sorrow;\n I'll wed you to a better lord\n \u00a0\u00a0Than him ye lost on Yarrow.\"\n\"O haud your tongue, father,\" she says,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Far warse ye mak' my sorrow;\n A better lord could never be\n \u00a0\u00a0Than him that lies on Yarrow.\"\nShe kiss'd his lips, she kaim'd his hair,\n \u00a0\u00a0As aft she had dune before, O;\n And there wi' grief her heart did break,\n \u00a0\u00a0Upon the banks o' Yarrow.","title":"A Book of Old English Ballads: The Banks o' Yarrow","type":"page"}