{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch036.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch036.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch036.htm","text":"36.1 \u2018I WAS but seven year auld\nWhen my mither she did die;\nMy father married the ae warst woman\nThe warld did ever see.\n36.2 \u2018For she has made me the laily worm,\nThat lies at the fit o the tree,\nAn my sister Masery she\u2019s made\nThe machrel of the sea.\n36.3 \u2018An every Saturday at noon\nThe machrel comes to me,\nAn she takes my laily head\nAn lays it on her knee,\nShe kaims it wi a siller kaim,\nAn washes\u2019t in the sea.\n36.4 \u2018Seven knights hae I slain,\nSin I lay at the fit of the tree,\nAn ye war na my ain father,\nThe eight ane ye should be.\u2019\n36.5 \u2018Sing on your song, ye laily worm,\nThat ye did sing to me:\u2019\n\u2018I never sung that song but what\nI would it sing to thee.\n36.6 \u2018I was but seven year auld,\nWhen my mither she did die;\nMy father married the ae warst woman\nThe warld did ever see.\n36.7 \u2018For she changed me to the laily worm,\nThat lies at the fit o the tree,\nAnd my sister Masery\nTo the machrel of the sea.\n36.8 \u2018And every Saturday at noon\nThe machrel comes to me,\nAn she takes my laily head\nAn lays it on her knee,\nAn kames it wi a siller kame,\nAn washes it i the sea.\n36.9 \u2018Seven knights hae I slain,\nSin I lay at the fit o the tree,\nAn ye war na my ain father,\nThe eighth ane ye shoud be.\u2019\n36.10 He sent for his lady,\nAs fast as send could he:\n\u2018Whar is my son that ye sent frae me,\nAnd my daughter, Lady Masery?\u2019\n36.11 \u2018Your son is at our king\u2019s court,\nServing for meat an fee,\nAn your daughter\u2019s at our queen\u2019s court,\n. . . . . \u2019\n36.12 \u2018Ye lie, ye ill woman,\nSae loud as I hear ye lie;\nMy son\u2019s the laily worm,\nThat lies at the fit o the tree,\nAnd my daughter, Lady Masery,\nIs the machrel of the sea!\u2019\n36.13 She has tane a siller wan,\nAn gien him strokes three,\nAnd he has started up the bravest knight\nThat ever your eyes did see.\n36.14 She has taen a small horn,\nAn loud an shrill blew she,\nAn a\u2019 the fish came her untill\nBut the proud machrel of the sea:\n\u2018Ye shapeit me ance an unseemly shape,\nAn ye\u2019s never mare shape me.\u2019\n36.15 He has sent to the wood\nFor whins and for hawthorn,\nAn he has taen that gay lady,\nAn there he did her burn.","title":"The Child Ballads: 36. The Laily Worm and the Machrel of ...","type":"page"}