{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch069.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch069.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch069.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 69A: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69A.1\tCLARK SANDERS and May Margret\n Walkt ower yon graveld green,\n And sad and heavy was the love,\n I wat, it fell this twa between.\n 69A.2\t\u2018A bed, a bed,\u2019 Clark Sanders said,\n \u2018A bed, a bed for you and I;\u2019\n \u2018Fye no, fye no,\u2019 the lady said,\n \u2018Until the day we married be.\n 69A.3\t\u2018For in it will come my seven brothers,\n And a\u2019 their torches burning bright;\n They\u2019ll say, We hae but ae sister,\n And here her lying wi a knight.\u2019\n 69A.4\t\u2018Ye\u2019l take the sourde fray my scabbord,\n And lowly, lowly lift the gin,\n And you may say, your oth to save,\n You never let Clark Sanders in.\n 69A.5\t\u2018Yele take a napken in your hand,\n And ye\u2019l ty up baith your een,\n An ye may say, your oth to save,\n That ye saw na Sandy sen late yestreen.\n 69A.6\t\u2018Yele take me in your armes twa,\n Yele carrey me ben into your bed,\n And ye may say, your oth to save,\n In your bower-floor I never tread.\u2019\n 69A.7\tShe has taen the sourde fray his scabbord,\n And lowly, lowly lifted the gin;\n She was to swear, her oth to save,\n She never let Clerk Sanders in.\n 69A.8\tShe has tain a napkin in her hand,\n And she ty\u2019d up baith her eeen;\n She was to swear, her oth to save,\n She saw na him sene late yestreen.\n 69A.9\tShe has taen him in her armes twa,\n And carried him ben into her bed;\n She was to swear, her oth to save,\n He never in her bower-floor tread.\n 69A.10\tIn and came her seven brothers,\n And all their torches burning bright;\n Says thay, We hae but ae sister,\n And see there her lying wi a knight.\n 69A.11\tOut and speaks the first of them,\n \u2018A wat they hay been lovers dear;\u2019\n Out and speaks the next of them,\n \u2018They hay been in love this many a year.\u2019\n 69A.12\tOut an speaks the third of them,\n \u2018It wear great sin this twa to twain;\u2019\n Out an speaks the fourth of them,\n \u2018It wear a sin to kill a sleeping man.\u2019\n 69A.13\tOut an speaks the fifth of them,\n \u2018A wat they\u2019ll near be twaind by me;\u2019\n Out an speaks the sixt of them,\n \u2018We\u2019l tak our leave an gae our way.\u2019\n 69A.14\tOut an speaks the seventh of them,\n \u2018Altho there wear no a man but me,\n . . . . .\n I bear the brand, I\u2019le gar him die.\u2019\n 69A.15\tOut he has taen a bright long brand,\n And he has striped it throw the straw,\n And throw and throw Clarke Sanders\u2019 body\n A wat he has gard cold iron gae.\n 69A.16\tSanders he started, an Margret she lapt,\n Intill his arms whare she lay,\n And well and wellsom was the night,\n A wat it was between these twa.\n 69A.17\tAnd they lay still, and sleeped sound,\n Untill the day began to daw;\n And kindly till him she did say\n \u2018It\u2019s time, trew-love, ye wear awa.\u2019\n 69A.18\tThey lay still, and sleeped sound,\n Untill the sun began to shine;\n She lookt between her and the wa,\n And dull and heavy was his eeen.\n 69A.19\tShe thought it had been a loathsome sweat,\n A wat it had fallen this twa between;\n But it was the blood of his fair body,\n A wat his life days wair na lang.\n 69A.20\t\u2018O Sanders, I\u2019le do for your sake\n What other ladys would na thoule;\n When seven years is come and gone,\n There\u2019s near a shoe go on my sole.\n 69A.21\t\u2018O Sanders, I\u2019le do for your sake\n What other ladies would think mare;\n When seven years is come and gone,\n Ther\u2019s nere a comb go in my hair.\n 69A.22\t\u2018O Sanders, I\u2019le do for your sake\n What other ladies would think lack;\n When seven years is come an gone,\n I\u2019le wear nought but dowy black.\u2019\n 69A.23\tThe bells gaed clinking throw the towne,\n To carry the dead corps to the clay,\n An sighing says her May Margret,\n \u2018A wat I bide a doulfou day.\u2019\n 69A.24\tIn an come her father dear,\n Stout steping on the floor;\n . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 69A.25\t\u2018Hold your toung, my doughter dear,\n Let all your mourning a bee;\n I\u2019le carry the dead corps to the clay,\n An I\u2019le come back an comfort thee.\u2019\n 69A.26\t\u2018Comfort well your seven sons,\n For comforted will I never bee;\n For it was neither lord nor loune\n That was in bower last night wi mee.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69B: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69B.1\tCLERK SAUNDERS and a gay lady\n Was walking in yonder green,\n And heavy, heavy was the love\n That fell this twa lovers between.\n 69B.2\t\u2018A bed, a bed,\u2019 Clerk Saunders said,\n \u2018And ay a bed for you and me;\u2019\n \u2018Never a ane,\u2019 said the gay lady,\n \u2018Till ance we twa married be.\n 69B.3\t\u2018There would come a\u2019 my seven brethern,\n And a\u2019 their torches burning bright,\n And say, We hae but ae sister,\n And behad, she\u2019s lying wi you the night.\u2019\n 69B.4\t\u2018You\u2019ll take a napkain in your hand,\n And then you will tie up your een;\n Then you may swear, and safe your aith,\n You sawna Sandy sin yestreen.\n 69B.5\t\u2018You\u2019ll take me up upo your back,\n And then you\u2019ll carry me to your bed;\n Then you may swear, and save your aith,\n Your board [-floor] Sandy never tred.\u2019\n 69B.6\tShe\u2019s taen him upo her back,\n And she\u2019s carried him unto her bed,\n That she might swear, and safe her aith,\n Her board-floor Sandy never tread.\n 69B.7\tShe\u2019s taen a napkin in her hand,\n And lo she did tie up her een,\n That she might swear, and safe her aith,\n She sawna Sandy syne yestreen.\n 69B.8\tThey were na weel into the room,\n Nor yet laid weel into the bed,\n . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 69B.9\tWhen in came a\u2019 her seven brethern,\n And a\u2019 their torches burning bright;\n Says they, We hae but ae sister,\n And behold, she\u2019s lying wi you this night.\n 69B.10\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the first o them,\n A wat an ill death mat he die!\n \u2018I bear a brand into my hand\n Shall quickly gar Clerk Saunders die.\u2019\n 69B.11\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the second of them,\n A wat a good death mat he die!\n \u2018We will gae back, let him alane,\n His father has nae mair but he.\u2019\n 69B.12\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the third o them,\n A wat an ill death mat he die!\n \u2018I bear the brand into my hand\n Shall quickly help to gar him die.\u2019\n 69B.13\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the fourth o them,\n A wat an ill death mat he die!\n \u2018I bear the brand into my hand\n Shall never help to gar him die.\u2019\n 69B.14\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the fifth o them,\n A wat a good death mat he die!\n \u2018Altho his father hae nae mair,\n I\u2019ll quickly help to gar him die.\u2019\n 69B.15\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the sixth o them,\n A wat a good death mat he die!\n \u2018He\u2019s a worthy earl\u2019s son,\n I\u2019ll never help to gar him die.\u2019\n 69B.16\t\u2018I,\u2019 bespake the seventh of them,\n A wat an ill death mat he die!\n \u2018I bear the brand into my hand\n Shall quickly gar Clerk Saunders die.\u2019\n 69B.17\tThey baith lay still, and sleeped sound,\n Untill the sun began to sheen;\n She drew the curtains a wee bit,\n And dull and drowsie was his een.\n 69B.18\t\u2018This night,\u2019 said she, \u2019The sleepiest man\n That ever my twa eyes did see\n Hay lyen by me, and sweat the sheets;\n A wite they\u2019re a great shame to see.\u2019\n 69B.19\tShe rowd the claiths a\u2019 to the foot,\n And then she spied his deadly wounds:\n \u2018O wae be to my seven brethern,\n A wat an ill death mat they die!\n 69B.20\t\u2018I\u2019m sure it was neither rogue nor loun\n I had into my bed wi me;\n \u2019Twas Clerk Saunders, that good earl\u2019s son,\n That pledgd his faith to marry me.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69C: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69C.1\tIT was a sad and a rainy nicht\n As ever raind frae toun to toun;\n Clerk Saunders and his lady gay\n They were in the fields sae broun.\n 69C.2\t\u2018A bed, a bed,\u2019 Clerk Saunders cried,\n \u2018A bed, a bed, let me lie doun;\n For I am sae weet and sae wearie\n That I canna gae nor ride frae toun.\u2019\n 69C.3\t\u2018A bed, a bed,\u2019 his lady cried,\n \u2018A bed, a bed, ye\u2019ll neer get nane;\n . . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 69C.4\t\u2018For I hae seven bauld brethren,\n Bauld are they, and very rude;\n And if they find ye in bouer wi me,\n They winna care to spill your blude.\u2019\n 69C.5\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll tak a lang claith in your hand,\n Ye\u2019ll haud it up afore your een,\n That ye may swear, and save your aith,\n That ye saw na Sandy sin yestreen.\n 69C.6\t\u2018And ye\u2019ll tak me in your arms twa,\n Ye\u2019ll carry me into your bed,\n That ye may swear, and save your aith,\n That in your bour-floor I never gaed.\u2019\n 69C.7\tShe\u2019s taen a lang claith in her hand,\n She\u2019s hauden\u2019t up afore her een,\n That she might swear, and save her aith,\n That she saw na Sandy sin yestreen.\n 69C.8\tShe has taen him in her arms twa,\n And carried him into her bed,\n That she might swear, and save her aith,\n That on her bour-floor he never gaed.\n 69C.9\tThen in there cam her firsten brother,\n Bauldly he cam steppin in:\n \u2018Come here, come here, see what I see!\n We hae only but ae sister alive,\n And a knave is in bour her wi.\u2019\n 69C.10\tThen in and cam her second brother,\n Says, Twa lovers are ill to twin;\n And in and cam her thirden brother,\n \u2018O brother dear, I say the same.\u2019\n 69C.11\tThen in and cam her fourthen brother,\n \u2018It\u2019s a sin to kill a sleepin man;\u2019\n And in and cam her fifthen brother,\n \u2018O brother dear, I say the same.\u2019\n 69C.12\tThen in and cam her sixthen brother,\n \u2018I wat he\u2019s neer be steerd by me;\u2019\n But in and cam her seventhen brother,\n \u2018I bear the hand that sall gar him dee.\u2019\n 69C.13\tThen out he drew a nut-brown sword,\n I wat he stript it to the stroe,\n And thro and thro Clerk Saunder\u2019s body\n I wat he garrd cauld iron go.\n 69C.14\tThen they lay there in ither\u2019s arms\n Until the day began to daw;\n Then kindly to him she did say,\n \u2018It\u2019s time, my dear, ye were awa.\n 69C.15\t\u2018Ye are the sleepiest young man,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018That ever my twa een did see;\n Ye\u2019ve lain a\u2019 nicht into my arms,\n I\u2019m sure it is a shame to be.\u2019\n 69C.16\tShe turnd the blankets to the foot,\n And turnd the sheets unto the wa,\n And there she saw his bluidy wound,\n . . . . .\n 69C.17\t\u2018O wae be to my seventhen brother,\n I wat an ill death mot he dee!\n He\u2019s killd Clerk Saunders, an earl\u2019s son,\n I wat he\u2019s killd him unto me.\u2019\n 69C.18\tThen in and cam her father dear,\n Cannie cam he steppin in;\n Says, Haud your tongue, my dochter dear,\n What need you mak sic heavy meane?\n 69C.19\t\u2018We\u2019ll carry Clerk Saunders to his grave,\n And syne come back and comfort thee:\u2019\n \u2018O comfort weel your seven sons, father,\n For man sall never comfort me;\n Ye\u2019ll marrie me wi the Queen o Heaven,\n For man sall never enjoy me.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69D: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69D.1\t* * * *\n \u2018O I have seven bold brethren,\n And they are all valiant men,\n If they knew a man that would tread my bower\n His life should not go along wi him.\u2019\n 69D.2\t\u2018Then take me up into your arms,\n And lay me low down on your bed,\n That ye may swear, and keep your oath clear,\n That your bower-room I did na tread.\n 69D.3\t\u2018Tie a handkerchief round your face,\n And you must tye it wondrous keen,\n That you may swear, and keep your oath clear,\n Ye saw na me since late yestreen.\u2019\n 69D.4\tBut they were scarsley gone to bed,\n Nor scarse fa\u2019n owre asleep,\n Till up and started her seven brethren,\n Just at Lord Saunder\u2019s feet.\n 69D.5\tOut bespoke the first brither,\n \u2018Oh but love be wondrous keen!\u2019\n Out bespoke the second brither,\n \u2018It\u2019s ill done to kill a sleeping man.\u2019\n 69D.6\tOut bespoke the third brither,\n \u2018We had better gae and let him be;\u2019\n Out bespoke the fourth brither,\n \u2018He\u2019ll no be killd this night for me:\u2019\n 69D.7\tOut bespoke the fifth brother,\n \u2018This night Lord Saunders he shall die;\n Tho there were not a man in all Scotland,\n This night Lord Saunders he shall die.\u2019\n 69D.8\tHe took out a rousty rapier,\n And he drew it three times thro the strae;\n Between Lord Saunders\u2019 short rib and his side\n He gard the rusty rapier gae.\n 69D.9\t\u2018Awake, awake, Lord Saunders,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Awake, awake, for sin and shame!\n For the day is light, and the sun shines bricht,\n \u2018And I am afraid we will be taen.\n 69D.10\t\u2018Awake, awake, Lord Saunders,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Awake, awake, for sin and shame!\n For the sheets they are asweat,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018And I am afraid we will be taen.\n 69D.11\t\u2018I dreamed a dreary dream last night,\n I wish it may be for our good,\n That I was cutting my yellow hair,\n And dipping it in the wells o blood.\u2019\n 69D.12\tAye she waukened at this dead man,\n Aye she put on him to and fro;\n Oh aye she waukend at this dead man,\n But of his death she did not know.\n * * * * *\n 69D.13\t\u2018It\u2019s I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What many ladies would think lang;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before a glove go on my hand.\n 69D.14\t\u2018And I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What many ladies would not do;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before I wear stocking or shoe.\n 69D.15\t\u2018Ther\u2019ll neer a shirt go on my back,\n There\u2019ll neer a kame go in my hair,\n There\u2019ll never coal nor candle-light\n Shine in my bower nae mair.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69E: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69E.1\tAN ensign and a lady gay,\n As they were walking on a green,\n The ensign said to the lady gay,\n Will you tak me to your bower at een?\n 69E.2\t\u2018I have seven bluidy brithers,\n Och and to you they have nae good will;\n And if they catch you in my bower,\n They\u2019ll value not your bluid to spill.\u2019\n 69E.3\t\u2018O you may take me on your back,\n And carry me to your chamber-bed,\n That I may swear, and avow richt clear,\n That your flowery bower I did never tread.\n 69E.4\t\u2018O take a napkin from your pocket,\n And with it blindfold my een,\n That I may swear, and avow richt clear,\n That your flowery bower I have never seen.\u2019\n 69E.5\tO she\u2019s taen him upon her back,\n And carried him to her chamber-bed,\n That he might swear, and avow it clear,\n That her flowery [bower] he did never tread.\n 69E.6\tO she\u2019s taen a napkin from her pocket,\n And with it blinded baith his een,\n That he might swear, and avow it clear,\n That her flowery bower he had never seen.\n 69E.7\tThey were not well into their bed,\n Nor were they scarsely fallen asleep,\n Till in there came her seven bluidy brithers,\n And placed themselves at the ensign\u2019s feet.\n 69E.8\tSaid the first one to the second,\n \u2018Och it is long since this love began;\u2019\n Said the second unto the third,\n \u2018It\u2019s a sin to kill a sleeping man.\u2019\n 69E.9\tSaid the third one to the fourth,\n \u2018I will go to yon tavern hie;\u2019\n Said [the] fourth one to the fifth,\n \u2018O if you will go, so will I.\u2019\n 69E.10\tSaid the fifth to the sixth,\n \u2018Och it\u2019s long since this love began;\u2019\n Said the sixth to the seventh,\n \u2018It\u2019s a sin to kill a sleeping man.\u2019\n 69E.11\tOut then spoke the seventh bluidy brither,\n Aye and an angry man was he:\n \u2018Altho there was no more men alive,\n The ensign\u2019s butcher I will be.\u2019\n 69E.12\tHe\u2019s taen out his rusty broad-sword,\n And ran it three times along his throat,\n And thro and thro the ensign\u2019s body\n The tempered steel it went thro and thro.\n 69E.13\t\u2018O I have dreamed a dream,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018And such an dreams cannot be good;\n I dreamed my bower was full of swine,\n And the ensign\u2019s clothes all dipped in blood.\n 69E.14\t\u2018I have dreamed another dream,\n And such an dreams are never good;\n That I was combing down my yellow hair,\n And dipping it in the ensign\u2019s blood.\u2019\n 69E.15\t\u2018O hold your tongue, my sister dear,\n And of your weeping let a be;\n For I will get you a better match\n Than eer the ensign, what was he?\u2019\n 69E.16\t\u2018So woe be to you, my seven bluidy brithers,\n Aye and an ill death may you die!\n For you durst not fight him in battle-field,\n But you killed him sleeping in bed wi me.\n 69E.17\t\u2018I\u2019ll do more for my love\u2019s sake\n That other lovers would not incline;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before I wash this face of mine.\n 69E.18\t\u2018I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What other lovers would not repair;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before I comb down my yellow hair.\n 69E.19\t\u2018I\u2019ll do more for my love\u2019s sake,\n What other lovers will not do;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before I cast off stocking and shoe.\n 69E.20\t\u2018I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What other lovers they will be slack;\n Seven years shall come and go\n Before I cast off my robes of black.\n 69E.21\t\u2018Go make to me a high, high tower,\n Be sure you make it stout and strong,\n And on the top put an honour\u2019s gate,\n That my love\u2019s ghost may go out and in.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69F: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69F.1\tCLERK SAUNDERS was an earl\u2019s son,\n He livd upon sea-sand;\n May Margaret was a king\u2019s daughter,\n She livd in upper land.\n 69F.2\tClerk Saunders was an earl\u2019s son,\n Weel learned at the scheel;\n May Margaret was a king\u2019s daughter,\n They baith loed ither weel.\n 69F.3\tHe\u2019s throw the dark, and throw the mark,\n And throw the leaves o green,\n Till he came to May Margaret\u2019s door,\n And tirled at the pin.\n 69F.4\t\u2018O sleep ye, wake ye, May Margaret,\n Or are ye the bower within?\u2019\n O wha is that at my bower-door,\n Sae weel my name does ken?\u2019\n \u2018It\u2019s I, Clerk Saunders, your true-love,\n You\u2019ll open and lat me in.\n 69F.5\t\u2018O will ye to the cards, Margaret,\n Or to the table to dine?\n Or to the bed, that\u2019s weel down spread,\n And sleep when we get time?\u2019\n 69F.6\t\u2018I\u2019ll no go to the cards,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018Nor to the table to dine;\n But I\u2019ll go to a bed, that\u2019s weel down spread,\n And sleep when we get time.\u2019\n 69F.7\tThey were not weel lyen down,\n And no weel fa\u2019en asleep,\n When up and stood May Margaret\u2019s brethren,\n Just up at their bed-feet.\n 69F.8\t\u2018O tell us, tell us, May Margaret,\n And dinna to us len,\n O wha is aught yon noble steed,\n That stands your stable in?\u2019\n 69F.9\t\u2018The steed is mine, and it may be thine,\n To ride whan ye ride in hie;\n . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 69F.10\t\u2018But awa, awa, my bald brethren,\n Awa, and mak nae din;\n For I am as sick a lady the nicht\n As eer lay a bower within.\u2019\n 69F.11\t\u2018O tell us, tell us, May Margaret,\n And dinna to us len,\n O wha is aught yon noble hawk,\n That stands your kitchen in?\u2019\n 69F.12\t\u2018The hawk is mine, and it may be thine,\n To hawk whan ye hawk in hie;\n . . . . .\n . . . . .\n 69F.13\t\u2018But awa, awa, my bald brethren,\n Awa, and mak nae din;\n For I\u2019m ane o the sickest ladies this nicht\n That eer lay a bower within.\u2019\n 69F.14\t\u2018O tell us, tell us, May Margaret,\n And dinna to us len,\n O wha is that, May Margaret,\n You and the wa between?\u2019\n 69F.15\t\u2018O it is my bower-maiden,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018As sick as sick can be;\n O it is my bower-maiden,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018And she\u2019s thrice as sick as me.\u2019\n 69F.16\t\u2018We hae been east, and we\u2019ve been west,\n And low beneath the moon;\n But a\u2019 the bower-women eer we saw\n Hadna goud buckles in their shoon.\u2019\n 69F.17\tThen up and spak her eldest brither,\n Ay in ill time spak he:\n \u2018It is Clerk Saunders, your true-love,\n And never mat I the\n But for this scorn that he has done\n This moment he sall die.\u2019\n 69F.18\tBut up and spak her youngest brother,\n Ay in good time spak he:\n \u2018O but they are a gudelie pair!\n True lovers an ye be,\n The sword that hangs at my sword-belt\n Sall never sinder ye.\u2019\n 69F.19\tSyne up and spak her nexten brother,\n And the tear stood in his ee:\n \u2018You\u2019ve loed her lang, and loed her weel,\n And pity it wad be\n The sword that hangs at my sword-belt\n Shoud ever sinder ye.\u2019\n 69F.20\tBut up and spak her fifthen brother:\n \u2018Sleep on your sleep for me;\n But we baith sall never sleep again,\n For the tane o us sall die.\u2019\n 69F.21\tAnd up and spak her thirden brother,\n Ay in ill time spak he:\n \u2018Curse on his love and comeliness!\n Dishonourd as ye be,\n The sword that hangs at my sword-belt\n Sall quickly sinder ye.\u2019\n 69F.22\tThe eldest brother has drawn his sword,\n The second has drawn anither,\n Between Clerk Saunders\u2019 hause and collarbane\n The cald iron met thegither.\n 69F.23\t\u2018O wae be to you, my fause brethren,\n And an ill death mat ye die!\n Ye mith slain Clerk Saunders in open field,\n And no in bed wi me.\u2019\n \n \n \n 69G: Clerk Sanders\n \n \n 69G.1\tCLERK SANDY and a lady gay\n Where walking in the garden green,\n And great and heavy was the love\n That hae befa\u2019en these twa between.\n 69G.2\t\u2018A bed, a bed,\u2019 said Clerk Sandy,\n \u2018A bed, my love, for you and me;\u2019\n \u2018O never a foot,\u2019 said the lady gay,\n \u2018Till ance that we twa married be.\n 69G.3\t\u2018My seven brithers will come in,\n And a\u2019 their torches burning bright;\n They\u2019ll say, We hae but ae sister,\n And here she\u2019s lying wi a knight.\u2019\n 69G.4\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll take my brand I bear in hand,\n And wi the same ye\u2019ll lift the gin;\n Then ye may swear, and save your oath,\n That ye neer let Clerk Sandy in.\n 69G.5\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll take that kurchie on your head,\n And wi the same tie up your een;\n And ye will swear, and save your oath,\n Ye saw not Sandy sin yestreen.\n 69G.6\t\u2018Ye\u2019ll lift me in your arms twa,\n And carry me unto your bed;\n Then ye may swear, and save your oath,\n Clerk Sandy in your bower neer tread.\u2019\n 69G.7\tShe\u2019s taen the brand he bare in hand,\n And wi the same lifted the gin;\n It was to swear, and save her oath,\n She never loot Clerk Sandy in.\n 69G.8\tShe\u2019s taen the kurchie frae her head,\n And wi the same tied up her een;\n It was to swear, and save her oath,\n She saw not Sandy sin yestreen.\n 69G.9\tShe\u2019s taen him in her arms twa,\n And she\u2019s carried him to her bed;\n It was to swear, and save her oath,\n Clerk Sandie in her bower neer tread.\n 69G.10\tThey hadna kissd, nor love clapped,\n Like other lovers when they meet,\n Till in a quarter\u2019s space and less\n These two lovers fell sound asleep.\n 69G.11\tThen in it came her seven brothers,\n And a\u2019 their torches burning bright;\n They said, We hae but ae sister,\n And here she\u2019s lying wi a knight.\n 69G.12\tO out it speaks the first o them,\n \u2018We will awa and lat them be;\u2019\n Then out it speaks the second o them,\n \u2018His father has nae mair but he.\u2019\n 69G.13\tOut it speaks the third o them,\n For he was standing on the birk:\n \u2018Nae sweeter coud twa lovers lye,\n Tho they\u2019d been married in a kirk.\u2019\n 69G.14\tThen out it speaks the fourth o them,\n Mair fair and lovely is his buke:\n \u2018Our sister dear we cannot blame,\n Altho in him she pleasure took.\u2019\n 69G.15\tThen out it speaks the fifth o them,\n \u2018It were a sin to do them ill;\u2019\n Then out it spake the sixth o them,\n \u2018It\u2019s hard a sleeping man to kill.\u2019\n 69G.16\tBut out it speaks the seventh o them,\n I wish an ill death mat he dee!\n \u2018I wear the sharp brand by my side\n That soon shall gar Clerk Sandy die.\u2019\n 69G.17\tThen he\u2019s taen out his trusty brand,\n And he has stroakd it ower a strae;\n And thro and thro Clerk Sandy\u2019s middle\n I wat he\u2019s gart it come and gae.\n 69G.18\tThe lady slept by her love\u2019s side\n Until the dawning o the day,\n But what was dune she naething knew,\n For when she wak\u2019d these words did say:\n 69G.19\t\u2018Awake, awake, now Clerk Sandy,\n Awake, and turn you unto me;\n Ye\u2019re nae sae keen\u2019s ye were at night,\n When you and I met on the lee.\u2019\n 69G.20\tO then she calld her chamber-maid\n To bring her coal and candle seen:\n \u2018I fear Clerk Sandy\u2019s dead eneuch,\n I had a living man yestreen.\u2019\n 69G.21\tThey hae lifted his body up,\n They hae searched it round and round,\n And even anent his bonny heart\n Discovered the deadly wound.\n 69G.22\tShe wrung her hands, and tore her hair,\n And wrung her hands most bitterlie:\n \u2018This is my fause brothers, I fear,\n This night hae used this crueltie.\n 69G.23\t\u2018But I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n Woud nae be done by ladies rare;\n For seven years shall hae an end\n Or eer a kame gang in my hair.\n 69G.24\t\u2018O I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What other ladies woud think lack;\n For seven years shall hae an end\n Or eer I wear but dowie black.\n 69G.25\t\u2018And I will do for my love\u2019s sake\n What other ladies woudna thole;\n Seven years shall hae an end\n Or eer a shoe gang on my sole.\u2019\n 69G.26\tIn it came her father dear,\n And he was belted in a brand;\n Sae softly as he trad the floor,\n And in her bower did stately stand.\n 69G.27\tSays, Hold your tongue, my daughter dear,\n And ye\u2019ll lat a\u2019 your mourning be;\n I\u2019ll wed you to a higher match\n Or eer his father\u2019s son coud be.\n 69G.28\t\u2018Wed well, wed well your seven sons;\n I wish ill wedded they may be,\n Sin they hae killd him Clerk Sandy!\n For wedded shall I never be.\u2019\n 69G.29\tHis corpse was laid in the cauld clay,\n The bells went tinkling thro the town;\n \u2018Alas! alas!\u2019 said the lady gay,\n \u2018That eer I heard that waefu soun!\u2019\n 69G.30\tWhen she had sitten intill her bower\n A twalmonth lang and weary day,\n Even below her bower-window\n She heard a ghaist to knock an cry.\n 69G.31\tShe says, Ye\u2019re thief or bauld robber,\n Or biggin come to burn or brake;\n Or are you ony masterfu man,\n That is come seeking ony make?\n 69G.32\t\u2018I am not thief nor bauld robber,\n Nor bigging come to burn nor brake;\n Nor am I ony masterfu man,\n That is come seeking ony make;\n But I\u2019m Clerk Sandy, your first love,\n And wants wi you again to speak.\n 69G.33\t\u2018Gin ye\u2019re Clerk Sandy, my first love,\n And wants wi me to speak again,\n Tell me some o\u2019 the love tokens\n That you and I had last between.\u2019\n 69G.34\t\u2018O mind not ye, ye gay lady,\n Sin last I was in bower wi thee,\n That in it came your seven brethren,\n The youngest gart me sairly dree?\u2019\n Then sighd and said the gay lady,\n \u2018Sae true a tale as ye tell me.\u2019\n 69G.35\tSae painfully she clam the wa,\n She clam the wa up after him;\n \u2019Twas not for want of stockings nor sheen,\n But hadna time to put them on;\n And in the midst o gude greenwood,\n \u2019Twas there she lost the sight o him.\n 69G.36\tThe lady sat, and mourning there,\n Until she coudna weep nae mair;\n At length the cloks and wanton flies\n They biggit in her yellow hair.\n 69G.37\t\u2018O had your peace, my dearest dear,\n For I am come to mak you wise;\n Or this night nine nights come and gang,\n We baith shall be in Paradise.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 70. Willie and Lady Maisry","title":"The Child Ballads: 69. Clerk Sanders","type":"page"}