{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch047.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch047.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch047.htm","text":"47A.1 RR\u2019rrTWAS on a night, an evening bright,\nWhen the dew began to fa,\nLady Margaret was walking up and down,\nLooking oer her castle wa.\n47A.2 She looked east and she looked west,\nTo see what she could spy,\nWhen a gallant knight came in her sight,\nAnd to the gate drew nigh.\n47A.3 \u2018You seem to be no gentleman,\nYou wear your boots so wide;\nBut you seem to be some cunning hunter,\nYou wear the horn so syde.\u2019\n47A.4 \u2018I am no cunning hunter,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Nor neer intend to be;\nBut I am come to this castle\nTo seek the love of thee.\nAnd if you do not grant me love,\nThis night for thee I\u2019ll die.\u2019\n47A.5 \u2018If you should die for me, sir knight,\nThere\u2019s few for you will meane;\nFor mony a better has died for me,\nWhose graves are growing green.\n47A.6 [\u2018But ye maun read my riddle,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And answer my questions three;\nAnd but ye read them right,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Gae stretch ye out and die.]\n47A.7 \u2018Now what is the flower, the ae first flower,\nSprings either on moor or dale?\nAnd what is the bird, the bonnie bonnie bird,\nSings on the evening gale?\u2019\n47A.8 \u2018The primrose is the ae first flower\nSprings either on moor or dale,\nAnd the thristlecock is the bonniest bird\nSings on the evening gale.\u2019\n47A.9 [\u2018But what\u2019s the little coin,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Wald buy my castle bound?\nAnd what\u2019s the little boat,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Can sail the world all round?\u2019]\n47A.10 \u2018O hey, how mony small pennies\nMake thrice three thousand pound?\nOr hey, how mony salt fishes\nSwim a\u2019 the salt sea round?\u2019\n47A.11 \u2018I think you maun be my match,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018My match and something mair;\nYou are the first eer got the grant\nOf love frae my father\u2019s heir.\n47A.12 \u2018My father was lord of nine castles,\nMy mother lady of three;\nMy father was lord of nine castles,\nAnd there\u2019s nane to heir but me.\n47A.13 \u2018And round about a\u2019 thae castles\nYou may baith plow and saw,\nAnd on the fifteenth day of May\nThe meadows they will maw.\u2019\n47A.14 \u2018O hald your tongue, Lady Margaret,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018For loud I hear you lie;\nYour father was lord of nine castles,\nYour mother was lady of three;\nYour father was lord of nine castles,\nBut ye fa heir to but three.\n47A.15 \u2018And round about a\u2019 thae castles\nYou may baith plow and saw,\nBut on the fifteenth day of May\nThe meadows will not maw.\n47A.16 \u2018I am your brother Willie,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018I trow ye ken na me;\nI came to humble your haughty heart,\nHas gard sae mony die.\u2019\n47A.17 \u2018If ye be my brother Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018As I trow weel ye be,\nThis night I\u2019ll neither eat nor drink,\nBut gae alang wi thee.\u2019\n47A.18 \u2018O hold your tongue, Lady Margaret,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Again I hear you lie;\nFor ye\u2019ve unwashen hands and ye\u2019ve unwashen feet,\nTo gae to clay wi me.\n47A.19 \u2018For the wee worms are my bedfellows,\nAnd cauld clay is my sheets,\nAnd when the stormy winds do blow,\nMy body lies and sleeps.\u2019\n47B: Proud Lady Margaret\n47B.1 THERE was a knight, in a summer\u2019s night,\nAppeard in a lady\u2019s hall,\nAs she was walking up and down,\nLooking oer her castle wall.\n47B.2 \u2018God make you safe and free, fair maid,\nGod make you safe and free!\u2019\n\u2018O sae fa you, ye courteous knight,\nWhat are your wills wi me?\u2019\n47B.3 \u2018My wills wi you are not sma, lady,\nMy wills wi you nae sma,\nAnd since there\u2019s nane your bower within,\nYe\u2019se hae my secrets a\u2019.\n47B.4 \u2018For here am I a courtier,\nA courtier come to thee,\nAnd if ye winna grant your love,\nAll for your sake I\u2019ll dee.\u2019\n47B.5 \u2018If that ye dee for me, sir knight,\nFew for you will make meen;\nFor mony gude lord\u2019s done the same,\nTheir graves are growing green.\u2019\n47B.6 \u2018O winna ye pity me, fair maid,\nO winna ye pity me?\nO winna ye pity a courteous knight,\nWhose love is laid on thee?\u2019\n47B.7 \u2018Ye say ye are a courteous knight,\nBut I think ye are nane;\nI think ye\u2019re but a millar bred,\nBy the colour o your claithing.\n47B.8 \u2018You seem to be some false young man,\nYou wear your hat sae wide;\nYou seem to be some false young man,\nYou wear your boots sae side.\u2019\n47B.9 \u2018Indeed I am a courteous knight,\nAnd of great pedigree;\nNae knight did mair for a lady bright\nThan I will do for thee.\n47B.10 \u2018O I\u2019ll put smiths in your smithy,\nTo shoe for you a steed,\nAnd I\u2019ll put tailors in your bower,\nTo make for you a weed.\n47B.11 \u2018I will put cooks in your kitchen,\nAnd butlers in your ha,\nAnd on the tap o yourn father\u2019s castle\nI\u2019ll big gude corn and saw.\u2019\n47B.12 \u2018If ye be a courteous knight,\nAs I trust not ye be,\nYe\u2019ll answer some o the sma questions\nThat I will ask at thee.\n47B.13 \u2018What is the fairest flower, tell me,\nThat grows in mire or dale?\nLikewise, which is the sweetest bird\nSings next the nightingale?\nOr what\u2019s the finest thing,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018That king or queen can wile?\u2019\n47B.14 \u2018The primrose is the fairest flower\nThat grows in mire or dale;\nThe mavis is the sweetest bird\nNext to the nightingale;\nAnd yellow gowd\u2019s the finest thing\nThat king or queen can wale.\n47B.15 \u2018Ye hae asked many questions, lady,\nI\u2019ve you as many told;\u2019\n\u2018But how many pennies round\nMake a hundred pounds in gold?\n47B.16 \u2018How many of the small fishes\nDo swim the salt seas round?\nOr what\u2019s the seemliest sight you\u2019ll see\nInto a May morning?\u2019\n* * * * *\n47B.17 \u2018Berry-brown ale and a birken speal,\nAnd wine in a horn green;\nA milk-white lace in a fair maid\u2019s dress\nLooks gay in a May morning.\u2019\n47B.18 \u2018Mony\u2019s the questions I\u2019ve askd at thee,\nAnd ye\u2019ve answerd them a\u2019;\nYe are mine, and I am thine,\nAmo the sheets sae sma.\n47B.19 \u2018You may be my match, kind sir,\nYou may be my match and more;\nThere neer was ane came sic a length\nWi my father\u2019s heir before.\n47B.20 \u2018My father\u2019s lord o nine castles,\nMy mother she\u2019s lady ower three,\nAnd there is nane to heir them all,\nNo never a ane but me;\nUnless it be Willie, my ae brother,\nBut he\u2019s far ayont the sea.\u2019\n47B.21 \u2018If your father\u2019s laird o nine castles,\nYour mother lady ower three,\nI am Willie your ae brother,\nWas far beyond the sea.\u2019\n47B.22 \u2018If ye be Willie, my ae brother,\nAs I doubt sair ye be,\nBut if it\u2019s true ye tell me now,\nThis night I\u2019ll gang wi thee.\u2019\n47B.23 \u2018Ye\u2019ve ower ill washen feet, Janet,\nAnd ower ill washen hands,\nAnd ower coarse robes on your body,\nAlang wi me to gang.\n47B.24 \u2018The worms they are my bed-fellows,\nAnd the cauld clay my sheet,\nAnd the higher that the wind does blaw,\nThe sounder I do sleep.\n47B.25 \u2018My body\u2019s buried in Dumfermline,\nAnd far beyond the sea,\nBut day nor night nae rest coud get,\nAll for the pride o thee.\n47B.26 \u2018Leave aff your pride, jelly Janet,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Use it not ony mair;\nOr when ye come where I hae been\nYou will repent it sair.\n47B.27 \u2018Cast aff, cast aff, sister,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018The gowd lace frae your crown;\nFor if ye gang where I hae been,\nYe\u2019ll wear it laigher down.\n47B.28 \u2018When ye\u2019re in the gude church set,\nThe gowd pins in your hair,\nYe take mair delight in your feckless dress\nThan ye do in your morning prayer.\n47B.29 \u2018And when ye walk in the church-yard,\nAnd in your dress are seen,\nThere is nae lady that sees your face\nBut wishes your grave were green.\n47B.30 \u2018You\u2019re straight and tall, handsome withall,\nBut your pride owergoes your wit,\nBut if ye do not your ways refrain,\nIn Pirie\u2019s chair ye\u2019ll sit.\n47B.31 \u2018In Pirie\u2019s chair you\u2019ll sit, I say,\nThe lowest seat o hell;\nIf ye do not amend your ways,\nIt\u2019s there that ye must dwell.\u2019\n47B.32 Wi that he vanishd frae her sight,\nWi the twinkling o an eye;\nNaething mair the lady saw\nBut the gloomy clouds and sky.\n47C: Proud Lady Margaret\n47C.1 ONCE there was a jolly hind squire\nAppeard in a lady\u2019s ha,\nAnd aye she walked up and down,\nLooking oer her castle wa.\n47C.2 \u2018What is your wills wi me, kind sir?\nWhat is your wills wi me?\u2019\n\u2018My wills are [not] sma wi thee, lady,\nMy wills are [not] sma wi thee.\n47C.3 \u2018For here I stand a courtier,\nAnd a courtier come to thee,\nAnd if ye will not grant me your love,\nFor your sake I will die.\u2019\n47C.4 \u2018If you die for my sake,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Few for you will make moan;\nMany better\u2019s died for my sake,\nTheir graves are growing green.\n47C.5 \u2018You appear to be some false young man,\nYou wear your hat so wide;\nYou appear to be some false young man,\nYou wear your boots so side.\n47C.6 \u2018An asking, asking, sir,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018An asking ye\u2019ll grant me:\u2019\n\u2018Ask on, ask on, lady,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018What may your asking be?\u2019\n47C.7 \u2018What\u2019s the first thing in flower,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018That springs in mire or dale?\nWhat\u2019s the next bird that sings,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Unto the nightingale?\nOr what is the finest thing,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018That king or queen can wile?\u2019\n47C.8 \u2018The primrose is the first in flower\nThat springs in mire or dale;\nThe thristle-throat is the next that sings\nUnto the nightingale;\nAnd yellow gold is the finest thing\nThat king or queen can wile.\n47C.9 \u2018You have asked many questions, lady,\nI\u2019ve you as many told;\u2019\n\u2018But how many pennies round\nMake a hundred pounds in gold?\n47C.10 \u2018How many small fishes\nDo swim the salt seas round?\nOr what\u2019s the seemliest sight you\u2019ll see\nInto a May morning?\n* * * * *\n47C.11 \u2018There\u2019s ale into the birken scale,\nWine in the horn green;\nThere\u2019s gold in the king\u2019s banner\nWhen he is fighting keen.\u2019\n47C.12 \u2018You may be my match, kind sir,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018You may be my match and more;\nThere neer was one came such a length\nWith my father\u2019s heir before.\n47C.13 \u2018My father\u2019s lord of nine castles,\nNo body heir but me.\u2019\n\u2018Your father\u2019s lord of nine castles,\nYour mother\u2019s lady of three;\n47C.14 \u2018Your father\u2019s heir of nine castles,\nAnd you are heir to three;\nFor I am William, thy ae brother,\nThat died beyond the sea.\u2019\n47C.15 \u2018If ye be William, my ae brother,\nThis night, O well is me!\nIf ye be William, my ae brother,\nThis night I\u2019ll go with thee.\u2019\n47C.16 \u2018For no, for no, jelly Janet,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018For no, that cannot be;\nYou\u2019ve oer foul feet and ill washen hands\nTo be in my company.\n47C.17 \u2018For the wee wee worms are my bedfellows,\nAnd the cold clay is my sheet,\nAnd the higher that the winds do blow,\nThe sounder I do sleep.\n47C.18 \u2018Leave off your pride, jelly Janet,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Use it not any more;\nOr when you come where I have been\nYou will repent it sore.\n47C.19 \u2018When you go in at yon church door,\nThe red gold on your hair,\nMore will look at your yellow locks\nThan look on the Lord\u2019s prayer.\n47C.20 \u2018When you go in at yon church door,\nThe red gold on your crown;\nWhen you come where I have been,\nYou\u2019ll wear it laigher down.\u2019\n47C.21 The jolly hind squire, he went away\nIn the twinkling of an eye,\nLeft the lady sorrowful behind,\nWith many bitter cry.\n47D: Proud Lady Margaret\n47D.1 THERE cam a knicht to Archerdale,\nHis steed was winder sma,\nAn there he spied a lady bricht,\nLuikin owre her castle wa.\n47D.2 \u2018Ye dinna seem a gentle knicht,\nThough on horseback ye do ride;\nYe seem to be some sutor\u2019s son,\nYour butes they are sae wide.\u2019\n47D.3 \u2018Ye dinna seem a lady gay,\nThough ye be bound wi pride;\nElse I\u2019d gane bye your father\u2019s gate\nBut either taunt or gibe.\u2019\n47D.4 He turned aboot his hie horse head,\nAn awa he was boun to ride,\nBut neatly wi her mouth she spak:\nOh bide, fine squire, oh bide.\n47D.5 \u2018Bide, oh bide, ye hindy squire,\nTell me mair o your tale;\nTell me some o that wondrous lied\nYe\u2019ve learnt in Archerdale.\n47D.6 \u2018What gaes in a speal?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018What in a horn green?\nAn what gaes on a lady\u2019s head,\nWhan it is washen clean?\u2019\n47D.7 \u2018Ale gaes in a speal,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Wine in a horn green;\nAn silk gaes on a lady\u2019s head,\nWhan it is washen clean.\u2019\n47D.8 Aboot he turned his hie horse head,\nAn awa he was boun to ride,\nWhen neatly wi her mouth she spak:\nOh bide, fine squire, oh bide.\n47D.9 \u2018Bide, oh bide, ye hindy squire,\nTell me mair o your tale;\nTell me some o that unco lied\nYou\u2019ve learnt in Archerdale.\n47D.10 \u2018Ye are as like my ae brither\nAs ever I did see;\nBut he\u2019s been buried in yon kirkyaird\nIt\u2019s mair than years is three.\u2019\n47D.11 \u2018I am as like your ae brither\nAs ever ye did see;\nBut I canna get peace into my grave,\nA\u2019 for the pride o thee.\n47D.12 \u2018Leave pride, Janet, leave pride, Janet,\nLeave pride an vanitie;\nIf ye come the roads that I hae come,\nSair warned will ye be.\n47D.13 \u2018Ye come in by yonder kirk\nWi the goud preens in your sleeve;\nWhen you\u2019re bracht hame to yon kirkyaird,\nYou\u2019ll gie them a\u2019 thier leave.\n47D.14 \u2018Ye come in to yonder kirk\nWi the goud plaits in your hair;\nWhen you\u2019re bracht hame to yon kirkyaird,\nYou will them a\u2019 forbear.\u2019\n47D.15 He got her in her mither\u2019s bour,\nPuttin goud plaits in her hair;\nHe left her in her father\u2019s gairden,\nMournin her sins sae sair.\n47E: Proud Lady Margaret\n47E.1 FAIR MARGRET was a young ladye,\nAn come of high degree;\nFair Margret was a young ladye,\nAn proud as proud coud be.\n47E.2 Fair Margret was a rich ladye,\nThe king\u2019s cousin was she;\nFair Margaret was a rich ladye,\nAn vain as vain coud be.\n47E.3 She war\u2019d her wealth on the gay cleedin\nThat comes frae yont the sea,\nShe spent her time frae morning till night\nAdorning her fair bodye.\n47E.4 Ae night she sate in her stately ha,\nKaimin her yellow hair,\nWhen in there cum like a gentle knight,\nAn a white scarf he did wear.\n47E.5 \u2018O what\u2019s your will wi me, sir knight,\nO what\u2019s your will wi me?\nYou\u2019re the likest to my ae brother\nThat ever I did see.\n47E.6 \u2018You\u2019re the likest to my ae brother\nThat ever I hae seen,\nBut he\u2019s buried in Dunfermline kirk,\nA month an mair bygane.\u2019\n47E.7 \u2018I\u2019m the likest to your ae brother\nThat ever ye did see,\nBut I canna get rest into my grave,\nA\u2019 for the pride of thee.\n47E.8 \u2018Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,\nLeave pride an vanity;\nEre ye see the sights that I hae seen,\nSair altered ye maun be.\n47E.9 \u2018O ye come in at the kirk-door\nWi the gowd plaits in your hair;\nBut wud ye see what I hae seen,\nYe maun them a\u2019 forbear.\n47E.10 \u2018O ye come in at the kirk-door\nWi the gowd prins i your sleeve;\nBut wad ye see what I hae seen,\nYe maun gie them a\u2019 their leave.\n47E.11 \u2018Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,\nLeave pride an vanity;\nEre ye see the sights that I hae seen,\nSair altered ye maun be.\u2019\n47E.12 He got her in her stately ha,\nKaimin her yellow hair,\nHe left her on her sick sick bed,\nSheding the saut saut tear.","title":"The Child Ballads: 47. Proud Lady Margaret","type":"page"}