{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch004.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch004.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch004.htm","text":"4A.1 FAIR lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,\nRefrain: Aye as the gowans grow gay\nThere she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn.\nRefrain: The first morning in May\n4A.2 \u2018If I had yon horn that I hear blawing,\nAnd yon elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.\u2019\n4A.3 This maiden had scarcely these words spoken,\nTill in at her window the elf-knight has luppen.\n4A.4 \u2018It\u2019s a very strange matter, fair maiden,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me.\n4A.5 \u2018But will ye go to yon greenwood side?\nIf ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.\u2019\n4A.6 He leapt on a horse, and she on another,\nAnd they rode on to the greenwood together.\n4A.7 \u2018Light down, light down, lady Isabel,\u2019 said he,\nWe are come to the place where ye are to die.\n4A.8 \u2018Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me,\nTill ance my dear father and mother I see.\u2019\n4A.9 \u2018Seven king\u2019s-daughters here hae I slain,\nAnd ye shall be the eight o them.\u2019\n4A.10 \u2018O sit down a while, lay your head on my knee,\nThat we may hae some rest before that I die.\u2019\n4A.11 She stroakd him sae fast, the nearer he did creep,\nWi a sma charm she lulld him fast asleep.\n4A.12 Wi his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him,\nWi his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him.\n4A.13 \u2018If seven king\u2019s-daughters here ye hae slain,\nLye ye here, a husband to them a\u2019.\u2019\n4B: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4B.1 THERE came a bird out o a bush,\nOn water for to dine,\nAn sighing sair, says the king\u2019s daughter,\n\u2018O wae\u2019s this heart o mine!\u2019\n4B.2 He\u2019s taen a harp into his hand,\nHe\u2019s harped them all asleep,\nExcept it was the king\u2019s daughter,\nWho one wink couldna get.\n4B.3 He\u2019s luppen on his berry-brown steed,\nTaen \u2019er on behind himsell,\nThen baith rede down to that water\nThat they ca Wearie\u2019s Well.\n4B.4 \u2018Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,\nNo harm shall thee befall;\nOft times I\u2019ve watered my steed\nWi the waters o Wearie\u2019s Well.\u2019\n4B.5 The first step that she stepped in,\nShe stepped to the knee;\nAnd sighend says this lady fair,\n\u2018This water\u2019s nae for me.\u2019\n4B.6 \u2018Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,\nNo harm shall thee befall;\nOft times I\u2019ve watered my steed\nWi the water o Wearie\u2019s Well.\u2019\n4B.7 The next step that she stepped in,\nShe stepped to the middle;\n\u2018O,\u2019 sighend says this lady fair,\nI\u2019ve wat my gowden girdle.\u2019\n4B.8 \u2018Wide in, wide in, my lady fair,\nNo harm shall thee befall;\nOft times have I watered my steed\nWi the water o Wearie\u2019s Well.\u2019\n4B.9 The next step that she stepped in,\nShe stepped to the chin;\n\u2018O,\u2019 sighend says this lady fair,\n\u2018They sud gar twa loves twin.\u2019\n4B.10 \u2018Seven king\u2019s-daughters I\u2019ve drownd there,\nIn the water o Wearie\u2019s Well,\nAnd I\u2019ll make you the eight o them,\nAnd ring the common bell.\u2019\n4B.11 \u2018Since I am standing here,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018This dowie death to die,\nOne kiss o your comely mouth\nI\u2019m sure wad comfort me.\u2019\n4B.12 He louted him oer his saddle bow,\nTo kiss her cheek and chin;\nShe\u2019s taen him in her arms twa,\nAn thrown him headlong in.\n4B.13 \u2018Since seven king\u2019s daughters ye\u2019ve drowned there,\nIn the water o Wearie\u2019s Well,\nI\u2019ll make you bridegroom to them a\u2019,\nAn ring the bell mysell.\u2019\n4B.14 And aye she warsled, and aye she swam,\nAnd she swam to dry lan;\nShe thanked God most cheerfully\nThe dangers she oercame.\n4C: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4C.1 FALSE Sir John a wooing came\nTo a maid of beauty fair;\nMay Colven was this lady\u2019s name,\nHer father\u2019s only heir.\n4C.2 He wood her butt, he wood her ben,\nHe wood her in the ha,\nUntil he got this lady\u2019s consent\nTo mount and ride awa.\n4C.3 He went down to her father\u2019s bower,\nWhere all the steeds did stand,\nAnd he\u2019s taken one of the best steeds\nThat was in her father\u2019s land.\n4C.4 He\u2019s got on and she\u2019s got on,\nAnd fast as they could flee,\nUntil they came to a lonesome part,\nA rock by the side of the sea.\n4C.5 \u2018Loup off the steed,\u2019 says false Sir John,\n\u2018Your bridal bed you see;\nFor I have drowned seven young ladies,\nThe eight one you shall be.\n4C.6 \u2018Cast off, cast off, my May Colven,\nAll and your silken gown,\nFor it\u2019s oer good and oer costly\nTo rot in the salt sea foam.\n4C.7 \u2018Cast off, cast off, my May Colven,\nAll and your embroiderd shoen,\nFor they\u2019re oer good and oer costly\nTo rot in the salt sea foam.\u2019\n4C.8 \u2018O turn you about, O false Sir John,\nAnd look to the leaf of the tree,\nFor it never became a gentleman\nA naked woman to see.\u2019\n4C.9 He turnd himself straight round about,\nTo look to the leaf of the tree;\nSo swift as May Colven was\nTo throw him in the sea.\n4C.10 \u2018O help, O help, my May Colven,\nO help, or else I\u2019ll drown;\nI\u2019ll take you home to your father\u2019s bower,\nAnd set you down safe and sound.\u2019\n4C.11 \u2018No help, no help, O false Sir John,\nNo help, nor pity thee;\nTho seven king\u2019s-daughters you have drownd,\nBut the eight shall not be me.\u2019\n4C.12 So she went on her father\u2019s steed,\nAs swift as she could flee,\nAnd she came home to her father\u2019s bower\nBefore it was break of day.\n4C.13 Up then and spoke the pretty parrot:\n\u2018May Colven, where have you been?\nWhat has become of false Sir John,\nThat woo\u2019d you so late the streen?\n4C.14 \u2018He woo\u2019d you butt, he woo\u2019d you ben,\nHe woo\u2019d you in the ha,\nUntil he got your own consent\nFor to mount and gang awa.\u2019\n4C.15 \u2018O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,\nLay not the blame upon me;\nYour cup shall be of the flowered gold,\nYour cage of the root of the tree.\u2019\n4C.16 Up then spake the king himself,\nIn the bed-chamber where he lay:\n\u2018What ails the pretty parrot,\nThat prattles so long or day?\u2019\n4C.17 \u2018There came a cat to my cage door,\nIt almost a worried me,\nAnd I was calling on May Colven\nTo take the cat from me.\u2019\n4D: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4D.1 O HEARD ye of a bloody knight,\nLived in the south country?\nFor he has betrayed eight ladies fair\nAnd drowned them in the sea.\n4D.2 Then next he went to May Collin,\nShe was her father\u2019s heir,\nThe greatest beauty in the land,\nI solemnly declare.\n4D.3 \u2018I am a knight of wealth and might,\nOf townlands twenty-three;\nAnd you\u2019ll be lady of them all,\nIf you will go with me.\u2019\n4D.4 \u2018Excuse me, then, Sir John,\u2019 she says;\n\u2018To wed I am too young;\nWithout I have my parents\u2019 leave,\nWith you I darena gang.\u2019\n4D.5 \u2018Your parents\u2019 leave you soon shall have,\nIn that they will agree;\nFor I have made a solemn vow\nThis night you\u2019ll go with me.\u2019\n4D.6 From below his arm he pulled a charm,\nAnd stuck it in her sleeve,\nAnd he has made her go with him,\nWithout her parents\u2019 leave.\n4D.7 Of gold and silver she has got\nWith her twelve hundred pound,\nAnd the swiftest steed her father had\nShe has taen to ride upon.\n4D.8 So privily they went along,\nThey made no stop or stay,\nTill they came to the fatal place\nThat they call Bunion Bay.\n4D.9 It being in a lonely place,\nAnd no house there was nigh,\nThe fatal rocks were long and steep,\nAnd none could hear her cry.\n4D.10 \u2018Light down,\u2019 he said, \u2019Fair May Collin,\nLight down and speak with me,\nFor here I\u2019ve drowned eight ladies fair,\nAnd the ninth one you shall be.\u2019\n4D.11 \u2018Is this your bowers and lofty towers,\nSo beautiful and gay?\nOr is it for my gold,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018You take my life away?\u2019\n4D.12 \u2018Strip off,\u2019 he says, \u2019Thy jewels fine,\nSo costly and so brave,\nFor they are too costly and too fine\nTo throw in the sea wave.\u2019\n4D.13 \u2018Take all I have my life to save,\nO good Sir John, I pray;\nLet it neer be said you killed a maid\nUpon her wedding day.\u2019\n4D.14 \u2018Strip off,\u2019 he says, \u2019Thy Holland smock,\nThat\u2019s bordered with the lawn,\nFor it\u2019s too costly and too fine\nTo rot in the sea sand.\u2019\n4D.15 \u2018O turn about, Sir John,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Your back about to me,\nFor it never was comely for a man\nA naked woman to see.\u2019\n4D.16 But as he turned him round about,\nShe threw him in the sea,\nSaying, \u2018Lie you there, you false Sir John,\nWhere you thought to lay me.\n4D.17 \u2018O lie you there, you traitor false,\nWhere you thought to lay me,\nFor though you stripped me to the skin,\nYour clothes you\u2019ve got with thee.\u2019\n4D.18 Her jewels fine she did put on,\nSo costly, rich and brave,\nAnd then with speed she mounts his steed,\nSo well she did behave.\n4D.19 That lady fair being void of fear,\nHer steed being swift and free,\nAnd she has reached her father\u2019s gate\nBefore the clock struck three.\n4D.20 Then first she called the stable groom,\nHe was her waiting man;\nSoon as he heard his lady\u2019s voice\nHe stood with cap in hand.\n4D.21 \u2018Where have you been, fair May Collin?\nWho owns this dapple grey?\u2019\n\u2018It is a found one,\u2019 she replied,\n\u2018That I got on the way.\u2019\n4D.22 Then out bespoke the wily parrot\nUnto fair May Collin:\n\u2018What have you done with false Sir John,\nThat went with you yestreen?\u2019\n4D.23 \u2018O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot,\nAnd talk no more to me,\nAnd where you had a meal a day\nO now you shall have three.\u2019\n4D.24 Then up bespoke her father dear,\nFrom his chamber where he lay:\n\u2018What aileth thee, my pretty Poll,\nThat you chat so long or day?\u2019\n4D.25 The cat she came to my cage-door,\nThe thief I could not see,\nAnd I called to fair May Collin,\nTo take the cat from me.\u2019\n4D.26 Then first she told her father dear\nThe deed that she had done,\nAnd next she told her mother dear\nConcerning false Sir John.\n4D.27 \u2018If this be true, fair May Collin,\nThat you have told to me,\nBefore I either eat or drink\nThis false Sir John I\u2019ll see.\u2019\n4D.28 Away they went with one consent,\nAt dawning of the day,\nUntil they came to Carline Sands,\nAnd there his body lay.\n4D.29 His body tall, by that great fall,\nBy the waves tossed to and fro,\nThe diamond ring that he had on\nWas broke in pieces two.\n4D.30 And they have taken up his corpse\nTo yonder pleasant green,\nAnd there they have buried false Sir John,\nFor fear he should be seen.\n4E: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4E.1 AN outlandish knight came from the north lands,\nAnd he came a-wooing to me;\nHe told me he\u2019d take me unto the north lands,\nAnd there he would marry me.\n4E.2 \u2018Come, fetch me some of your father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of your mother\u2019s fee,\nAnd two of the best nags out of the stable,\nWhere they stand thirty and three.\u2019\n4E.3 She fetched him some of her father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of her mother\u2019s fee,\nAnd two of the best nags out of the stable,\nWhere they stood thirty and three.\n4E.4 She mounted her on her milk-white steed,\nHe on the dapple grey;\nThey rode till they came unto the sea-side,\nThree hours before it was day.\n4E.5 \u2018Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,\nAnd deliver it unto me;\nSix pretty maids have I drowned here,\nAnd thou the seventh shalt be.\n4E.6 \u2018Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,\nAnd deliver it unto me;\nMethinks it looks too rich and too gay\nTo rot in the salt sea.\n4E.7 \u2018Pull off, pull off thy silken stays,\nAnd deliver them unto me;\nMethinks they are too fine and gay\nTo rot in the salt sea.\n4E.8 \u2018Pull off, pull off thy Holland smock,\nAnd deliver it unto me;\nMethinks it looks too rich and gay\nTo rot in the salt sea.\u2019\n4E.9 \u2018If I must pull off my Holland smock,\nPray turn thy back unto me;\nFor it is not fitting that such a ruffian\nA naked woman should see.\u2019\n4E.10 He turned his back towards her\nAnd viewed the leaves so green;\nShe catched him round the middle so small,\nAnd tumbled him into the stream.\n4E.11 He dropped high and he dropped low,\nUntil he came to the side;\n\u2018Catch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden,\nAnd I will make you my bride.\u2019\n4E.12 \u2018Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,\nLie there instead of me;\nSix pretty maids have you drowned here,\nAnd the seventh has drowned thee.\u2019\n4E.13 She mounted on her milk-white steed,\nAnd led the dapple grey;\nShe rode till she came to her own father\u2019s hall,\nThree hours before it was day.\n4E.14 The parrot being in the window so high,\nHearing the lady, did say,\n\u2018I\u2019m afraid that some ruffian has led you astray,\nThat you have tarried so long away.\u2019\n4E.15 \u2018Don\u2019t prittle nor prattle, my pretty parrot,\nNor tell no tales of me;\nThy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,\nAlthough it is made of a tree.\u2019\n4E.16 The king being in the chamber so high,\nAnd hearing the parrot, did say,\n\u2018What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,\nThat you prattle so long before day?\u2019\n4E.17 \u2018It\u2019s no laughing matter,\u2019 the parrot did say,\n\u2018That so loudly I call unto thee,\nFor the cats have got into the window so high,\nAnd I\u2019m afraid they will have me.\u2019\n4E.18 \u2018Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,\nWell turned, well turned for me;\nThy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,\nAnd the door of the best ivory.\u2019\n4F: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4F.1 \u2019GO fetch me some of your father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of your mother\u2019s fee,\nAnd I\u2019ll carry you into the north land,\nAnd there I\u2019ll marry thee.\u2019\n4F.2 She fetchd him some of her father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of her mother\u2019s fee;\nShe carried him into the stable,\nWhere horses stood thirty and three.\n4F.3 She leapd on a milk-white steed,\nAnd he on a dapple-grey;\nThey rode til they came to a fair river\u2019s side,\nThree hours before it was day.\n4F.4 \u2018O light, O light, you lady gay,\nO light with speed, I say,\nFor six knight\u2019s daughters have I drowned here,\nAnd you the seventh must be.\u2019\n4F.5 \u2018Go fetch the sickle, to crop the nettle\nThat grows so near the brim,\nFor fear it should tangle my golden locks,\nOr freckle my milk-white skin.\u2019\n4F.6 He fetchd the sickle, to crop the nettle\nThat grows so near the brim,\nAnd with all the strength that pretty Polly had\nShe pushd the false knight in.\n4F.7 \u2018Swim on, swim on, thou false knight,\nAnd there bewail thy doom,\nFor I don\u2019t think thy cloathing too good\nTo lie in a watry tomb.\u2019\n4F.8 She leaped on her milk-white steed,\nShe led the dapple grey;\nShe rid till she came to her father\u2019s house,\nThree hours before it was day.\n4F.9 \u2018Who knocked so loudly at the ring?\u2019\nThe parrot he did say;\n\u2018O where have you been, my pretty Polly,\nAll this long summer\u2019s day?\u2019\n4F.10 \u2018O hold your tongue, parrot,\nTell you no tales of me;\nYour cage shall be made of beaten gold,\nWhich is now made of a tree.\u2019\n4F.11 O then bespoke her father dear,\nAs he on his bed did lay:\n\u2018O what is the matter, my parrot,\nThat you speak before it is day?\u2019\n4F.12 \u2018The cat\u2019s at my cage, master,\nAnd sorely frighted me,\nAnd I calld down my Polly\nTo take the cat away.\u2019\n4[G]: Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight\n4[G.1] \u2018Now steal me some of your father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of your mother\u2019s fee,\nAnd steal the best steed in your father\u2019s stable,\nWhere there lie thirty three.\u2019\n4[G.2] She stole him some of her father\u2019s gold,\nAnd some of her mother\u2019s fee,\nAnd she stole the best steed from her father\u2019s stable,\nWhere there lay thirty three.\n4[G.3] And she rode on the milk-white steed,\nAnd he on the barb so grey,\nUntil they came to the green, green wood,\nThree hours before it was day.\n4[G.4] \u2018Alight, alight, my pretty colleen,\nAlight immediately,\nFor six knight\u2019s daughters I drowned here,\nAnd thou the seventh shall be.\u2019\n4[G.5] \u2018Oh hold your tongue, you false knight villain,\nOh hold your tongue,\u2019 said she;\n\u2018\u2019Twas you that promised to marry me,\nFor some of my father\u2019s fee.\u2019\n4[G.6] \u2018Strip off, strip off your jewels so rare,\nAnd give them all to me;\nI think them too rich and too costly by far\nTo rot in the sand with thee.\u2019\n4[G.7] \u2018Oh turn away, thou false knight villain,\nOh turn away from me;\nOh turn away, with your back to the cliff,\nAnd your face to the willow-tree.\u2019\n4[G.8] He turned about, with his back to the cliff,\nAnd his face to the willow-tree;\nSo sudden she took him up in her arms,\nAnd threw him into the sea.\n4[G.9] \u2018Lie there, lie there, thou false knight villain,\nLie there instead of me;\n\u2019Twas you that promised to marry me,\nFor some of my father\u2019s fee.\u2019\n4[G.10] \u2018Oh take me by the arm, my dear,\nAnd hold me by the hand,\nAnd you shall be my gay lady,\nAnd the queen of all Scotland.\u2019\n4[G.11] \u2018I\u2019ll not take you by the arm, my dear,\nNor hold you by the hand;\nAnd I won\u2019t be your gay lady,\nAnd the queen of all Scotland.\u2019\n4[G.12] And she rode on the milk-white steed,\nAnd led the barb so grey,\nUntil she came back to her father\u2019s castle,\nOne hour before it was day.\n4[G.13] And out then spoke her parrot so green,\nFrom the cage wherein she lay:\nWhere have you now been, my pretty colleen,\nThis long, long summer\u2019s day?\n4[G.14] \u2018Oh hold your tongue, my favourite bird,\nAnd tell no tales on me;\nYour cage I will make of the beaten gold,\nAnd hang in the willow-tree.\u2019\n4[G.15] Out then spoke her father dear,\nFrom the chamber where he lay:\nOh what hath befallen my favourite bird,\nThat she calls so loud for day?\n4[G.16] \u2018\u2019Tis nothing at all, good lord,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018\u2019Tis nothing at all indeed;\nIt was only the cat came to my cage-door,\nAnd Icalled my pretty colleen.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 4. Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight","type":"page"}