{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch014.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch014.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch014.htm","text":"14A.1 THERE were three ladies lived in a bower,\nRefrain: Eh vow bonnie\nAnd they went out to pull a flower.\nRefrain: On the bonnie banks o Fordie\n14A.2 They hadna pu\u2019ed a flower but ane,\nWhen up started to them a banisht man.\n14A.3 He\u2019s taen the first sister by her hand,\nAnd he\u2019s turned her round and made her stand.\n14A.4 \u2018It\u2019s whether will ye be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye die by my wee pen-knife?\u2019\n14A.5 \u2018It\u2019s I\u2019ll not be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nBut I\u2019ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.\u2019\n14A.6 He\u2019s killed this may, and he\u2019s laid her by,\nFor to bear the red rose company.\n14A.7 He\u2019s taken the second ane by the hand,\nAnd he\u2019s turned her round and made her stand.\n14A.8 \u2018It\u2019s whether will ye be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye die by my wee pen-knife?\u2019\n14A.9 \u2018I\u2019ll not be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nBut I\u2019ll rather die by your wee pen-knife.\u2019\n14A.10 He\u2019s killed this may, and he\u2019s laid her by,\nFor to bear the red rose company.\n14A.11 He\u2019s taken the youngest ane by the hand,\nAnd he\u2019s turned her round and made her stand.\n14A.12 Says, \u2018Will ye be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye die by my wee pen-knife?\u2019\n14A.13 \u2018I\u2019ll not be a rank robber\u2019s wife,\nNor will I die by your wee pen-knife.\n14A.14 \u2018For I hae a brother in this wood,\nAnd gin ye kill me, it\u2019s he\u2019ll kill thee.\u2019\n14A.15 \u2018What\u2019s thy brother\u2019s name? come tell to me.\u2019\n\u2018My brother\u2019s name is Baby Lon.\u2019\n14A.16 \u2018O sister, sister, what have I done!\nO have I done this ill to thee!\n14A.17 \u2018O since I\u2019ve done this evil deed,\nGood sall never be seen o me.\u2019\n14A.18 He\u2019s taken out his wee pen-knife,\nAnd he\u2019s twyned himsel o his ain sweet life.\n14B: Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie\n14B.1 THERE wond three ladies in a bower,\nRefrain: Annet and Margret and Marjorie\nAnd they have gane out to pu a flower.\nRefrain: And the dew it lyes on the wood, gay ladie\n14B.2 They had nae pu\u2019d a flower but ane,\nWhen up has started a banished man.\n14B.3 He has taen the eldest by the hand,\nHe has turned her about and bade her stand.\n14B.4 \u2018Now whether will ye be a banisht man\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?\u2019\n14B.5 \u2018I will na be ca\u2019d a banished man\u2019s wife,\nI\u2019ll rather be sticked wi your pen-knife.\u2019\n14B.6 And he has taen out his little pen-knife,\nAnd frae this lady he has taen the life.\n14B.7 He has taen the second by the hand,\nHe has turned her about and he bad her stand.\n14B.8 \u2018Now whether will ye be a banisht man\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?\u2019\n14B.9 \u2018I will na be ca\u2019d a banished man\u2019s wife;\nI\u2019ll rather be sticked wi your pen-knife.\u2019\n14B.10 And he has taen out his little pen-knife,\nAnd frae this lady he has taen the life.\n14B.11 He has taen the youngest by the hand,\nHe has turned her about and he bad her stand.\n14B.12 \u2018Now whether will ye be a banished man\u2019s wife,\nOr will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?\u2019\n14B.13 \u2018I winnae be called a banished man\u2019s wife,\nNor yet will I be sticked wi your pen-knife.\n14B.14 \u2018But gin my three brethren had been here,\nYe had nae slain my sisters dear.\u2019\n* * * * *\n14C: Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie\n14C.1 THERE were three sisters on a road,\nRefrain: Gilly flower gentle rosemary\nAnd there they met a banished lord.\nRefrain: And the dew it hings over the mulberry tree\n14C.2 The eldest sister was on the road,\nAnd there she met with the banished lord.\n14C.3 \u2018O will ye consent to lose your life,\nOr will ye be a banished lord\u2019s wife?\u2019\n14C.4 \u2018I\u2019ll rather consent to lose my life\nBefore I\u2019ll be a banished lord\u2019s wife.\u2019\n14C.5 \u2018It\u2019s lean your head upon my staff,\u2019\nAnd with his pen-knife he has cutted it aff.\n14C.6 He flang her in amang the broom,\nSaying, \u2018Lye ye there till another ane come.\u2019\n14C.7 The second sister was on the road,\nAnd there she met with the banished lord.\n14C.8 \u2018O will ye consent to lose your life,\nOr will ye be a banished lord\u2019s wife?\u2019\n14C.9 \u2018I\u2019ll rather consent to lose my life\nBefore I\u2019ll be a banished lord\u2019s wife.\u2019\n14C.10 \u2018It\u2019s lean your head upon my staff,\u2019\nAnd with his pen-knife he has cutted it aff.\n14C.11 He flang her in amang the broom,\nSaying, \u2018Lie ye there till another ane come.\u2019\n14C.12 The youngest sister was on the road,\nAnd there she met with the banished lord.\n14C.13 \u2018O will ye consent to lose your life,\nOr will ye be a banished lord\u2019s wife?\u2019\n14C.14 \u2018O if my three brothers were here,\nYe durstna put me in such a fear.\u2019\n14C.15 \u2018What are your three brothers, altho they were here,\nThat I durstna put you in such a fear?\u2019\n14C.16 \u2018My eldest brother\u2019s a belted knight,\nThe second, he\u2019s a . . .\n14C.17 \u2018My youngest brother\u2019s a banished lord,\nAnd oftentimes he walks on this road.\u2019\n* * * * *\n14D: Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie\n14D.1 THERE were three sisters, they lived in a bower,\nRefrain: Sing Anna, sing Margaret, sing Marjorie\nThe youngest o them was the fairest flower.\nRefrain: And the dew goes thro the wood, gay ladie\n14D.2 The oldest of them she\u2019s to the wood gane,\nTo seek a braw leaf and to bring it hame.\n14D.3 There she met with an outlyer bold,\nLies many long nights in the woods so cold.\n14D.4 \u2018Istow a maid, or istow a wife?\nWiltow twinn with thy maidenhead, or thy sweet life?\u2019\n14D.5 \u2018O kind sir, if I hae\u2019t at my will,\nI\u2019ll twinn with my life, keep my maidenhead still.\u2019\n14D.6 He\u2019s taen out his we pen-knife,\nHe\u2019s twinned this young lady of her sweet life\n14D.7 He wiped his knife along the dew;\nBut the more he wiped, the redder it grew.\n14D.8 The second of them she\u2019s to the wood gane,\nTo seek her old sister, and to bring her hame.\n14D.9 There she met with an outlyer bold,\nLies many long nights in the woods so cold.\n14D.10 \u2018Istow a maid, or istow a wife?\nWiltow twinn with thy maidenhead, or thy sweet life?\u2019\n14D.11 \u2018O kind sir, if I hae\u2019t at my will,\nI\u2019ll twinn with my life, keep my maidenhead still.\u2019\n14D.12 He\u2019s taen out his we pen-knife,\nHe\u2019s twinned this young lady of her sweet life.\n14D.13 He wiped his knife along the dew;\nBut the more he wiped, the redder it grew.\n14D.14 The youngest of them she\u2019s to the wood gane,\nTo seek her two sisters, and to bring them hame.\n14D.15 There she met with an outlyer bold,\nLies many long nights in the woods so cold.\n14D.16 \u2018Istow a maid, or istow a wife?\nWiltow twinn with thy maidenhead, or thy sweet life?\u2019\n14D.17 \u2018If my three brethren they were here,\nSuch questions as these thou durst nae speer.\u2019\n14D.18 \u2018Pray, what may thy three brethren be,\nThat I durst na mak so bold with thee?\u2019\n14D.19 \u2018The eldest o them is a minister bred,\nHe teaches the people from evil to good.\n14D.20 \u2018The second o them is a ploughman good,\nHe ploughs the land for his livelihood.\n14D.21 \u2018The youngest of them is an outlyer bold,\nLies many a long night in the woods so cold.\u2019\n14D.22 He stuck his knife then into the ground,\nHe took a long race, let himself fall on.\n14E: Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie\n14E.1 THE Duke o Perth had three daughters,\nRefrain: Elizabeth, Margaret, and fair Marie;\nAnd Elizabeth\u2019s to the greenwud gane,\nRefrain: To pu the rose and the fair lilie.\n14E.2 But she hadna pu\u2019d a rose, a rose,\nRefrain: A double rose, but barely three,\n14E.2 Whan up and started a Loudon lord,\nRefrain: Wi Loudon hose, and Loudon sheen.\n14E.3 \u2018Will ye be called a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will ye be stickit wi my bloody knife?\nRefrain: For pu\u2019in the rose and the fair lilie,\nFor pu\u2019in them sae fair and free.\u2019\n14E.4 \u2018Before I\u2019ll be called a robber\u2019s wife,\nI\u2019ll rather be stickit wi your bloody knife,\nRefrain: For pu\u2019in,\u2019 etc.\n14E.5 Then out he\u2019s tane his little pen-knife,\nAnd he\u2019s parted her and her sweet life,\nAnd thrown her oer a bank o brume,\nThere never more for to be found.\n14E.6 The Duke o Perth had three daughters,\nRefrain: Elizabeth, Margaret, and fair Marie;\n14E.6 And Margaret\u2019s to the greenwud gane,\nRefrain: To pu the rose and the fair lilie.\n14E.7 She hadna pu\u2019d a rose, a rose,\nRefrain: A double rose, but barely three,\n14E.7 When up and started a Loudon lord,\nRefrain: Wi Loudon hose, and Loudon sheen.\n14E.8 \u2018Will ye be called a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will ye be stickit wi my bloody knife?\nRefrain: For pu\u2019in,\u2019 etc.\n14E.9 \u2018Before I\u2019ll be called a robber\u2019s wife,\nI\u2019ll rather be stickit wi your bloody knife,\nRefrain: For pu\u2019in,\u2019 etc.\n14E.10 Then out he\u2019s tane his little pen-knife,\nAnd he\u2019s parted her and her sweet life,\n14E.10r For pu\u2019in, etc.\n14E.11 The Duke o Perth had three daughters,\nRefrain: Elizabeth, Margaret, and fair Marie;\n14E.11 And Mary\u2019s to the greenwud gane,\nRefrain: To pu the rose and the fair lilie.\n14E.12 She hadna pu\u2019d a rose, a rose,\n14E.12r A double rose, but barely three,\n14E.12 When up and started a Loudon lord,\n14E.12r Wi Loudon hose, and Loudon sheen.\n14E.13 \u2018O will ye be called a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will ye be stickit wi my bloody knife?\n14E.13r For pu\u2019in,\u2019 etc.\n14E.14 \u2018Before I\u2019ll be called a robber\u2019s wife,\nI\u2019ll rather be stickit wi your bloody knife,\n14E.14r For pu\u2019in,\u2019 etc.\n14E.15 But just as he took out his knife,\nTo tak frae her her ain sweet life,\nHer brother John cam ryding bye,\nAnd this bloody robber he did espy.\n14E.16 But when he saw his sister fair,\nHe kennd her by her yellow hair;\nHe calld upon his pages three,\nTo find this robber speedilie.\n14E.17 \u2018My sisters twa that are dead and gane,\nFor whom we made a heavy maene,\nIt\u2019s you that\u2019s twinnd them o their life,\nAnd wi your cruel bloody knife.\n14E.18 \u2018Then for their life ye sair shall dree;\nYe sall be hangit on a tree,\nOr thrown into the poisond lake,\nTo feed the toads and rattle-snake.\u2019\n14[F]: Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie\n14[F].1 There were three sisters going from home,\nRefrain: All in a lea and alony, oh\n14[F.1] They met a man, and he made them stand,\nRefrain: Down by the bonny banks of Airdrie, oh.\n14[F.2] He took the first one by the hand,\nHe turned her round, and he made her stand.\n14[F.3] Saying, Will you be a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will you die by my penknife?\n14[F.4] \u2018Oh, I wont be a robber\u2019s wife,\nBut I will die by your penknife.\u2019\n14[F.5] Then he took the second by her hand,\nHe turned her round, and he made her stand.\n14[F.6] Saying, Will you be a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will you die by my penknife?\n14[F.7] \u2018Oh, I wont be a robber\u2019s wife,\nBut I will die by your penknife.\u2019\n14[F.8] He took the third one by the hand,\nHe turned her round, and he made her stand.\n14[F.9] Saying, Will you be a robber\u2019s wife?\nOr will you die by my penknife?\n14[F.10] \u2018Oh, I wont be a robber\u2019s wife,\nAnd I wont die by you penknife.\n14[F.11] \u2018If my two brothers had been here,\nYou would not have killed my sisters two.\u2019\n14[F.12] \u2018What was your two brothers\u2019 names?\u2019\n\u2018One was John, and the other was James.\u2019\n14[F.13] \u2018Oh, what did your two brothers do?\u2019\n\u2018One was a minister, the other such as you.\u2019\n14[F.14] \u2018Oh, what is this that I have done?\nI have killed my sisters, all but one.\n14[F.15] \u2018And now I\u2019ll take out my penknife,\nAnd here I\u2019ll end my own sweet life.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 14. Babylon or The Bonnie Banks o Fordie","type":"page"}