{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch002.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch002.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch002.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 2A: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2A.1\tMY plaid awa, my plaid awa,\n And ore the hill and far awa,\n And far awa to Norrowa,\n My plaid shall not be blown awa.\n The elphin knight sits on yon hill,\n Refrain:\tBa, ba, ba, lilli ba\n He blaws his horn both lowd and shril.\n Refrain:\tThe wind hath blown my plaid awa\n 2A.2\tHe blowes it east, he blowes it west,\n He blowes it where he lyketh best.\n 2A.3\t\u2018I wish that horn were in my kist,\n Yea, and the knight in my armes two.\u2019\n 2A.4\tShe had no sooner these words said,\n When that the knight came to her bed.\n 2A.5\t\u2018Thou art over young a maid,\u2019 quoth he,\n \u2018Married with me thou il wouldst be.\u2019\n 2A.6\t\u2018I have a sister younger than I,\n And she was married yesterday.\u2019\n 2A.7\t\u2018Married with me if thou wouldst be,\n A courtesie thou must do to me.\n 2A.8\t\u2018For thou must shape a sark to me,\n Without any cut or heme,\u2019 quoth he.\n 2A.9\t\u2018Thou must shape it knife-and-sheerlesse,\n And also sue it needle-threedlesse.\u2019\n 2A.10\t\u2018If that piece of courtesie I do to thee,\n Another thou must do to me.\n 2A.11\t\u2018I have an aiker of good ley-land,\n Which lyeth low by yon sea-strand.\n 2A.12\t\u2018For thou must eare it with thy horn,\n So thou must sow it with thy corn.\n 2A.13\t\u2018And bigg a cart of stone and lyme,\n Robin Redbreast he must trail it hame.\n 2A.14\t\u2018Thou must barn it in a mouse-holl,\n And thrash it into thy shoes soll.\n 2A.15\tthou must winnow it in thy looff,\n And also seck it in thy glove.\n 2A.16\t\u2018For thou must bring it over the sea,\n And thou must bring it dry home to me.\n 2A.17\ten thou hast gotten thy turns well done,\n Then come to me and get thy sark then.\u2019\n 2A.18\t\u2018I\u2019l not quite my plaid for my life;\n It haps my seven bairns and my wife.\u2019\n 2A.18r\tThe wind shall not blow my plaid awa\n 2A.19\t\u2018My maidenhead I\u2019l then keep still,\n Let the elphin knight do what he will.\u2019\n 2A.19r\tThe wind\u2019s not blown my plaid awa\n \n \n \n 2B.b: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2B.1\tMY plaid awa, my plaid awa,\n And owre the hills and far awa,\n And far awa to Norrowa,\n My plaid shall not be blawn awa.\n The Elphin knight sits on yon hill,\n Refrain:\tBa, ba, ba, lillie ba\n He blaws his horn baith loud and shrill.\n Refrain:\tThe wind hath blawn my plaid awa\n 2B.2\tHe blaws it east, he blaws it west,\n He blaws it where he liketh best.\n 2B.3\t\u2018I wish that horn were in my kist,\n Yea, and the knight in my arms niest.\u2019\n 2B.4\tShe had no sooner these words said,\n Than the knight came to her bed.\n 2B.5\t\u2018Thou art oer young a maid,\u2019 quoth he,\n \u2018Married with me that thou wouldst be.\u2019\n 2B.6\t\u2018I have a sister, younger than I,\n And she was married yesterday.\u2019\n 2B.7\t\u2018Married with me if thou wouldst be,\n A curtisie thou must do to me.\n 2B.8\t\u2018It\u2019s ye maun mak a sark to me,\n Without any cut or seam,\u2019 quoth he.\n 2B.9\t\u2018And ye maun shape it, knife-, sheerless,\n And also sew it needle-, threedless.\u2019\n 2B.10\t\u2018If that piece of courtisie I do to thee,\n Another thou must do to me.\n 2B.11\t\u2018I have an aiker of good ley land,\n Which lyeth low by yon sea strand.\n 2B.12\t\u2018It\u2019s ye maun till\u2019t wi your touting horn,\n And ye maun saw\u2019t wi the pepper corn.\n 2B.13\t\u2018And ye maun harrow\u2019t wi a thorn,\n And hae your wark done ere the morn.\n 2B.14\t\u2018And ye maun shear it wi your knife,\n And no lose a stack o\u2019t for your life.\n 2B.15\t\u2018And ye maun stack it in a mouse hole,\n And ye maun thrash it in your shoe sole.\n 2B.16\t\u2018And ye maun dight it in your loof,\n And also sack it in your glove.\n 2B.17\t\u2018And thou must bring it over the sea,\n Fair and clean and dry to me.\n 2B.18\t\u2018And when that ye have done your wark,\n Come back to me, and ye\u2019ll get your sark.\u2019\n 2B.19\t\u2018I\u2019ll not quite my plaid for my life;\n It haps my seven bairns and my wife.\u2019\n 2B.20\t\u2018My maidenhead I\u2019ll then keep still,\n Let the elphin knight do what he will.\n \n \n \n 2C: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2C.1\tTHERE stands a knicht at the tap o yon hill,\n Refrain:\tOure the hills and far awa\n He has blawn his horn loud and shill.\n Refrain:\tThe cauld wind\u2019s blawn my plaid awa\n 2C.2\t\u2018If I had the horn that I hear blawn,\n And the knicht that blaws that horn!\u2019\n 2C.3\tShe had na sooner thae words said,\n Than the elfin knicht cam to her side.\n 2C.4\t\u2018Are na ye oure young a may\n Wi onie young man doun to lie?\u2019\n 2C.5\t\u2018I have a sister younger than I,\n And she was married yesterday.\u2019\n 2C.6\t\u2018Married wi me ye sall neer be nane\n Till ye mak to me a sark but a seam.\n 2C.7\t\u2018And ye maun shape it knife-,sheer-less,\n And ye maun sew it needle-, threed-less.\n 2C.8\t\u2018And ye maun wash it in yon cistran,\n Whare water never stood nor ran.\n 2C.9\t\u2018And ye maun dry it on yon hawthorn,\n Whare the sun neer shon sin man was born.\u2019\n 2C.10\t\u2018Gin that courtesie I do for thee,\n Ye maun do this for me.\n 2C.11\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll get an acre o gude red-land\n Atween the saut sea and the sand.\n 2C.12\t\u2018I want that land for to be corn,\n And ye maun aer it wi your horn.\n 2C.13\t\u2018And ye maun saw it without a seed,\n And ye maun harrow it wi a threed.\n 2C.14\t\u2018And ye maun shear it wi your knife,\n And na tyne a pickle o\u2019t for your life.\n 2C.15\t\u2018And ye maun moue it in yon mouse-hole\n And ye maun thrash it in your shoe-sole.\n 2C.16\t\u2018And ye maun fan it wi your luves,\n And ye maun sack it in your gloves.\n 2C.17\t\u2018And ye maun bring it oure the sea,\n Fair and clean and dry to me.\n 2C.18\t\u2018And whan that your wark is weill deen,\n Yese get your sark without a seam.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2D: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2D.1\tTHE Elfin knight stands on yon hill,\n Refrain:\tBlaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw\n Blawing his horn loud and shrill.\n Refrain:\tAnd the wind has blawin my plaid awa\n 2D.2\t\u2018If I had yon horn in my kist,\n And the bonny laddie here that I luve best!\n 2D.3\t\u2018I hae a sister eleven years auld,\n And she to the young men\u2019s bed has made bauld.\n 2D.4\t\u2018And I mysell am only nine,\n And oh! sae fain, luve, as I woud be thine.\u2019\n 2D.5\t\u2018Ye maun make me a fine Holland sark,\n Without ony stitching or needle wark.\n 2D.6\t\u2018And ye maun wash it in yonder well,\n Where the dew never wat, nor the rain ever fell.\n 2D.7\t\u2018And ye maun dry it upon a thorn\n That never budded sin Adam was born.\u2019\n 2D.8\t\u2018Now sin ye\u2019ve askd some things o me,\n It\u2019s right I ask as mony o thee.\n 2D.9\t\u2018My father he askd me an acre o land,\n Between the saut sea and the strand.\n 2D.10\t\u2018And ye maun plow\u2019t wi your blawing horn,\n And ye maun saw\u2019t wi pepper corn.\n 2D.11\tAnd ye maun harrow\u2019t wi a single tyne,\n And ye maun shear\u2019t wi a sheep\u2019s shank bane.\n 2D.12\t\u2018And ye maun big it in the sea,\n And bring the stathle dry to me.\n 2D.13\t\u2018And ye maun barn \u2019t in yon mouse hole,\n And ye maun thrash\u2019t in your shee sole.\n 2D.14\t\u2018And ye maun sack it in your gluve,\n And ye maun winno\u2019t in your leuve.\n 2D.15\t\u2018And ye maun dry\u2019t without candle or coal,\n And grind it without quirn or mill.\n 2D.16\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll big a cart o stane and lime,\n Gar Robin Redbreast trail it syne.\n 2D.17\t\u2018When ye\u2019ve dune, and finishd your wark,\n Ye\u2019ll come to me, luve, and get your sark.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2E: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2E.1\tTHE Elfin Knight sits on yon hill,\n Refrain:\tBa ba lilly ba\n Blowing his horn loud and shill.\n Refrain:\tAnd the wind has blawn my plaid awa\n 2E.2\t\u2018I love to hear that horn blaw;\n I wish him [here] owns it and a\u2019.\u2019\n 2E.3\tThat word it was no sooner spoken,\n Than Elfin Knight in her arms was gotten.\n 2E.4\t\u2018You must mak to me a sark,\n Without threed, sheers or needle wark.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2F: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2F.1\t\u2018DID ye ever travel twixt Berwick and Lyne?\n Refrain:\tSober and grave grows merry in time\n There ye\u2019ll meet wi a handsome young dame,\n Refrain:\tAnce she was a true love o mine.\n 2F.2\t\u2018Tell her to sew me a holland sark,\n And sew it all without needle-wark:\n Refrain:\tAnd syne we\u2019ll be true lovers again.\n 2F.3\t\u2018Tell her to wash it at yon spring-well,\n Where neer wind blew, nor yet rain fell.\n 2F.4\t\u2018Tell her to dry it on yon hawthorn,\n That neer sprang up sin Adam was born.\n 2F.5\t\u2018Tell her to iron it wi a hot iron,\n And plait it a\u2019 in ae plait round.\u2019\n 2F.6\t\u2018Did ye ever travel twixt Berwick and Lyne?\n There ye\u2019ll meet wi a handsome young man,\n Refrain:\tAnce he was a true lover o mine.\n 2F.7\t\u2018Tell him to plough me an acre o land\n Betwixt the sea-side bot and the sea-sand,\n Refrain:\tAnd syne we\u2019ll be true lovers again.\n 2F.8\t\u2018Tell him to saw it wi ae peck o corn,\n And harrow it a\u2019 wi ae harrow tine.\n 2F.9\t\u2018Tell him to shear it wi ae hook-tooth,\n And carry it hame just into his loof.\n 2F.10\t\u2018Tell him to stack it in yon mouse-hole,\n And thrash it a\u2019 just wi his shoe-sole.\n 2F.11\t\u2018Tell him to dry it on yon ribless kiln,\n And grind it a\u2019 in yon waterless miln.\n 2F.12\tTell this young man, whan he\u2019s finished his wark,\n He may come to me, and hese get his sark.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2G: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2G.1\t\u2018CAN you make me a cambrick shirt,\n Refrain:\tParsley, sage, rosemary and thyme\n Without any seam or needle work?\n Refrain:\tAnd you shall be a true lover of mine\n 2G.2\t\u2018Can you wash it in yonder well,\n Where never sprung water nor rain ever fell?\n 2G.3\t\u2018Can you dry it on yonder thorn,\n Which never bore blossom since Adam was born?\n 2G.4\t\u2018Now you have askd me questions three,\n I hope you\u2019ll answer as many for me.\n 2G.5\t\u2018Can you find me an acre of land\n Between the salt water and the sea sand?\n 2G.6\t\u2018Can you plow it with a ram\u2019s horn,\n And sow it all over with one pepper corn?\n 2G.7\t\u2018Can you reap it with a sickle of leather,\n And bind it up with a peacock\u2019s feather?\n 2G.8\t\u2018When you have done, and finishd your work,\n Then come to me for your cambrick shirt.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2H: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2H.1\t\u2018COME, pretty Nelly, and sit thee down by me,\n Refrain:\tEvery rose grows merry wi thyme\n And I will ask thee questions three,\n Refrain:\tAnd then thou wilt be a true lover of mine.\n 2H.2\t\u2018Thou must buy me a cambrick smock\n Without any stitch of needlework.\n 2H.3\t\u2018Thou must wash it in yonder strand,\n Where wood never grew and water neer ran.\n 2H.4\t\u2018Thou must dry it on yonder thorn,\n Where the sun never shined on since Adam was formed.\u2019\n 2H.5\t\u2018Thou hast asked me questions three;\n Sit down till I ask as many of thee.\n 2H.6\t\u2018Thou must buy me an acre of land\n Betwixt the salt water, love, and the sea-sand.\n 2H.7\t\u2018Thou must plow it wi a ram\u2019s horn,\n And sow it all over wi one pile o corn.\n 2H.8\t\u2018Thou must shear it wi a strap o leather,\n And tie it all up in a peacock feather.\n 2H.9\t\u2018Thou must stack it in the sea,\n And bring the stale o\u2019t hame dry to me.\n 2H.10\t\u2018When my love\u2019s done, and finished his work,\n Let him come to me for his cambric smock.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2I: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2I.1\tA LADY wonned on yonder hill,\n Refrain:\tHee ba and balou ba\n And she had musick at her will.\n Refrain:\tAnd the wind has blown my plaid awa\n 2I.2\tUp and cam an auld, auld man,\n Wi his blue bonnet in his han.\n 2I.3\t\u2018I will ask ye questions three;\n Resolve them, or ye\u2019ll gang wi me.\n 2I.4\t\u2018Ye maun mak to me a sark,\n It maun be free o woman\u2019s wark.\n 2I.5\t\u2018Ye maun shape it knife- sheerless,\n And ye maun sew it needle- threedless.\n 2I.6\t\u2018Ye maun wash it in yonder well,\n Whare rain nor dew has ever fell.\n 2I.7\t\u2018Ye maun dry it on yonder thorn,\n Where leaf neer grew since man was born.\u2019\n 2I.8\t\u2018I will ask ye questions three;\n Resolve them, or ye\u2019ll neer get me.\n 2I.9\t\u2018I hae a rig o bonnie land\n Atween the saut sea and the sand.\n 2I.10\t\u2018Ye maun plow it wi ae horse bane,\n And harrow it wi ae harrow pin.\n 2I.11\t\u2018Ye maun shear\u2019t wi a whang o leather,\n And ye maun bind \u2019t bot strap or tether.\n 2I.12\t\u2018Ye maun stack it in the sea,\n And bring the stale hame dry to me.\n 2I.13\t\u2018Ye maun mak a cart o stane,\n And yoke the wren and bring it hame.\n 2I.14\t\u2018Ye maun thresh\u2019t atween your lufes,\n And ye maun sack\u2019t atween your thies.\u2019\n 2I.15\t\u2018My curse on those wha learn d thee;\n This night I weend ye\u2019d gane wi me.\u2019\n \n \n \n 2J: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2J.1\tNOW you are a-going to Cape Ann,\n Refrain:\tFollomingkathellomeday\n Remember me to the self-same man.\n Refrain:\tUmmatiddle, ummatiddle, ummatallyho, tallyho, follomingkathellomeday\n 2J.2\tTell him to buy me an acre of land\n Between the salt-water and the sea-sand.\n 2J.3\tTell him to plough it with a ram\u2019s horn,\n Tell him to sow it with one peppercorn.\n 2J.4\tTell him to reap it with a penknife,\n And tell him to cart it with two mice.\n 2J.5\tTell him to cart it to yonder new barn\n That never was built since Adam was born.\n 2J.6\tTell him to thrash it with a goose quill,\n Tell him to fan it with an egg-shell.\n 2J.7\tTell the fool, when he\u2019s done his work,\n To come to me, and he shall have his shirt.\n \n \n \n 2K: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2K.1\tMY father left me three acres of land,\n Refrain:\tSing ivy, sing ivy\n My father left me three acres of land.\n Refrain:\tSing holly, go whistle and ivy\n 2K.2\tI ploughed it with a ram\u2019s horn,\n And sowed it all over with one pepper corn.\n 2K.3\tI harrowed it with a bramble bush,\n And reaped it with my little penknife.\n 2K.4\tI got the mice to carry it to the barn,\n And thrashed it with a goose\u2019s quill.\n 2K.5\tI got the cat to carry it to the mill;\n The miller he swore he would have her paw,\n And the cat she swore she would scratch his face.\n \n \n \n 2L: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2L.1\tMY father gave me an acre of land,\n Refrain:\tSing ivy, sing ivy\n My father gave me an acre of land.\n Refrain:\tSing green bush, holly and ivy\n 2L.2\tI ploughd it with a ram\u2019s horn.\n 2L.3\tI harrowd it with a bramble.\n 2L.4\tI sowd it with a pepper corn.\n 2L.5\tI reapd it with my penknife.\n 2L.6\tI carried it to the mill upon the cat\u2019s back.\n * * * * *\n 2L.7\tI made a cake for all the king\u2019s men.\n \n \n \n 2[M]: The Elfin Knight\n \n \n 2[M.1]\tAs I went up to the top o yon hill,\n Refrain:\tEvery rose springs merry in\u2019 t\u2019 time\n I met a fair maid, an her name it was Nell.\n Refrain:\tAn she langed to be a true lover o mine\n 2[M.2]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll get to me a cambric sark,\n An sew it all over without thread or needle.\n Refrain:\tBefore that ye be, etc.\n 2[M.3]\t\u2019ll wash it doun in yonder well,\n Where water neer ran an dew never fell.\n 2[M.4]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll bleach it doun by yonder green,\n Where grass never grew an wind never blew.\n 2[M.5]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll dry it doun on yonder thorn,\n That never bore blossom sin Adam was born.\u2019\n 2[M.6]\t\u2018Four questions ye have asked at me,\n An as mony mair ye\u2019ll answer me.\n 2[M.7]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll get to me an acre o land\n Atween the saut water an the sea sand.\n 2[M.8]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll plow it wi a ram\u2019s horn,\n An sow it all over wi one peppercorn.\n 2[M.9]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll shear it wi a peacock\u2019s feather,\n An bind it all up wi the sting o an adder.\n 2[M.10]\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll stook it in yonder saut sea,\n An bring the dry sheaves a\u2019 back to me.\n 2[M.11]\t\u2018An when ye\u2019ve done and finished your wark,\n Ye\u2019ll come to me, an ye\u2019se get your sark.\u2019\n 2[M.12]\tAn then shall ye be ture lover o mine\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 3. The Fause Knight on the Road","title":"The Child Ballads: 2. The Elfin Knight","type":"page"}