{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch006.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch006.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch006.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 6A: Willie\u2019s Lady\n \n \n 6A.1\tWILLIE has taen him oer the fame,\n He\u2019s woo\u2019d a wife and brought her hame.\n 6A.2\tHe\u2019s woo\u2019d her for her yellow hair,\n But his mother wrought her mickle care.\n 6A.3\tAnd mickle dolour gard her dree,\n For lighter she can never be.\n 6A.4\tBut in her bower she sits wi pain,\n And Willie mourns oer her in vain.\n 6A.5\tAnd to his mother he has gone,\n That vile rank witch of vilest kind.\n 6A.6\tHe says: \u2018My ladie has a cup,\n Wi gowd and silver set about.\n 6A.7\t\u2018This goodlie gift shall be your ain,\n And let her be lighter o her young bairn.\u2019\n 6A.8\t\u2018Of her young bairn she\u2019ll neer be lighter,\n Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.\n 6A.9\t\u2018But she shall die and turn to clay,\n And you shall wed another may.\u2019\n 6A.10\t\u2018Another may I\u2019ll never wed,\n Another may I\u2019ll neer bring home.\u2019\n 6A.11\tBut sighing says that weary wight,\n \u2018I wish my life were at an end.\u2019\n 6A.12\t\u2018Ye doe [ye] unto your mother again,\n That vile rank witch of vilest kind.\n 6A.13\t\u2018And say your ladie has a steed,\n The like o\u2019m\u2019s no in the lands of Leed.\n 6A.14\t\u2018For he [i]s golden shod before,\n And he [i]s golden shod behind.\n 6A.15\t\u2018And at ilka tet of that horse\u2019s main,\n There\u2019s a golden chess and a bell ringing.\n 6A.16\t\u2018This goodlie gift shall be your ain,\n And let me be lighter of my young bairn.\u2019\n 6A.17\t\u2018O her young bairn she\u2019ll neer be lighter,\n Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.\n 6A.18\t\u2018But she shall die and turn to clay,\n And ye shall wed another may.\u2019\n 6A.19\t\u2018Another may I[\u2019ll] never wed,\n Another may I[\u2019ll] neer bring hame.\u2019\n 6A.20\tBut sighing said that weary wight,\n \u2018I wish my life were at an end.\u2019\n 6A.21\t\u2018Ye doe [ye] unto your mother again,\n That vile rank witch of vilest kind.\n 6A.22\t\u2018And say your ladie has a girdle,\n It\u2019s red gowd unto the middle.\n 6A.23\t\u2018And ay at every silver hem,\n Hangs fifty silver bells and ten.\n 6A.24\t\u2018That goodlie gift has be her ain,\n And let me be lighter of my young bairn.\u2019\n 6A.25\t\u2018O her young bairn she\u2019s neer be lighter,\n Nor in her bower to shine the brighter.\n 6A.26\t\u2018But she shall die and turn to clay,\n And you shall wed another may.\u2019\n 6A.27\t\u2018Another may I\u2019ll never wed,\n Another may I\u2019ll neer bring hame.\u2019\n 6A.28\tBut sighing says that weary wight,\n \u2018I wish my life were at an end.\u2019\n 6A.29\tThen out and spake the Belly Blind;\n He spake aye in good time.\n 6A.30\t\u2018Ye doe ye to the market place,\n And there ye buy a loaf o wax.\n 6A.31\t\u2018Ye shape it bairn and bairnly like,\n And in twa glassen een ye pit;\n 6A.32\t\u2018And bid her come to your boy\u2019s christening;\n Then notice weel what she shall do.\n 6A.33\t\u2018And do you stand a little fore bye,\n And listen weel what she shall say.\u2019\n 6A.34\t\u2018Oh wha has loosed the nine witch knots\n That was amo that ladie\u2019s locks?\n 6A.35\t\u2018And wha has taen out the kaims of care\n That hangs amo that ladie\u2019s hair?\n 6A.36\t\u2018And wha\u2019s taen down the bush o woodbine\n That hang atween her bower and mine?\n 6A.37\t\u2018And wha has killd the master kid\n That ran beneath that ladie\u2019s bed?\n 6A.38\t\u2018And wha has loosed her left-foot shee,\n And lotten that ladie lighter be?\u2019\n 6A.39\tO Willie has loosed the nine witch knots\n That was amo that ladie\u2019s locks.\n 6A.40\tAnd Willie\u2019s taen out the kaims o care\n That hang amo that ladie\u2019s hair.\n 6A.41\tAnd Willie\u2019s taen down the bush o woodbine\n That hang atween her bower and thine.\n 6A.42\tAnd Willie has killed the master kid\n That ran beneath that ladie\u2019s bed.\n 6A.43\tAnd Willie has loosed her left-foot shee,\n And letten his ladie lighter be.\n 6A.44\tAnd now he\u2019s gotten a bonny young son,\n And mickle grace be him upon.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 7. Earl Brand","title":"The Child Ballads: 6. Willie's Lady","type":"page"}