{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch075.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch075.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch075.htm","text":"75A.1 \u2018AND I fare you well, Lady Ouncebell,\nFor I must needs be gone,\nAnd this time two year I\u2019ll meet you again,\nTo finish the loves we begun.\u2019\n75A.2 \u2018That is a long time, Lord Lovill,\u2019 said she,\n\u2018To live in fair Scotland;\u2019\n\u2018And so it is, Lady Ouncebell,\nTo leave a fair lady alone.\u2019\n75A.3 He had not been in fair Scotland\nNot half above half a year,\nBut a longin mind came into his head,\nLady Ouncebell he woud go see her.\n75A.4 He called up his stable-groom,\nTo sadle his milk-white stead;\nRefrain: Dey down, dey down, dey down dery down,\n75A.4 I wish Lord Lovill good speed.\n75A.5 He had not been in fair London\nNot half above half a day,\nBut he heard the bells of the high chapel ring,\nThey rang with a ceserera.\n75A.6 He asked of a gentleman,\nThat set there all alone,\nWhat made the bells of the high chapel ring,\nThe ladys make all their moan.\n75A.7 \u2018One of the king\u2019s daughters are dead,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018Lady Ouncebell was her name;\nShe died for love of a courtous young night,\nLord Lovill he was the same.\u2019\n75A.8 He caused her corps to be set down,\nAnd her winding sheet undone,\nAnd he made a vow before them all\nHe\u2019d never kiss wowman again.\n75A.9 Lady Ouncebell died on the yesterday,\nLord Lovill on the morrow;\nLady Ouncebell died for pure true love,\nLord Lovill died for sorrow.\n75A.10 Lady Ouncebell was buried in the high chancel,\nLord Lovill in the choir;\nLady Ouncebell\u2019s breast sprung out a sweet rose,\nLord Lovill\u2019s a bunch of sweet brier.\n75A.11 They grew till they grew to the top of the church,\nAnd then they could grow no higher;\nThey grew till they grew to a true-lover\u2019s not,\nAnd then they tyed both together.\n75A.12 An old wowman coming by that way,\nAnd a blessing she did crave,\nTo cut of a bunch of that true-lover\u2019s not,\nAnd buried them both in one grave.\n75B: Lord Lovel\n75B.1 LORD LAVEL he stands at his stable-door,\nKaiming his milk-white steed;\nAnd by and cam Fair Nancybelle,\nAnd wished Lord Lavel good speed.\n75B.2 \u2018O whare are ye going, Lord Lavel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018I pray ye tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018O I am going to merry England,\nTo win your love aff me.\u2019\n75B.3 \u2018And when will ye return again?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Lord Lavel, pray tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018Whan seven lang years are past and gane,\nFair Nancybelle, I\u2019ll return to thee.\u2019\n75B.4 \u2018\u2019Tis too lang, Lord Lavel,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018\u2019Tis too lang for me;\n\u2019Tis too long, Lord Lavel,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018A true lover for to see.\u2019\n* * * * *\n75B.5 He had na been in merry England\nA month but barely three,\nTill languishing thoughts cam into his mind,\nAnd Nancybelle fain wad he see.\n75B.6 He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,\nTill he cam to yonder toun;\nHe heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,\nAnd the ladies were mourning roun.\n75B.7 He rade, and he rade, alang the hieway,\nTill he cam to yonder hall;\nHe heard the sound o a fine chapel-bell,\nAnd the ladies were mourning all.\n75B.8 He asked wha it was that was dead,\nThe ladies did him tell:\nThey said, It is the king\u2019s daughter,\nHer name is Fair Nancybelle;\nShe died for the love of a courteous young knicht,\nHis name is Lord Lavel.\n75B.9 \u2018O hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle,\nO hast thou died for me!\nO hast thou died, Fair Nancybelle!\nThen I will die for thee.\u2019\n75B.10 Fair Nancybelle died, as it might be, this day,\nLord Lavel he died tomorrow;\nFair Nancybelle died with pure, pure love,\nLord Lavel he died with sorrow.\n75B.11 Lord Lavel was buried in Mary\u2019s kirk,\nNancybelle in Mary\u2019s quire;\nAnd out o the ane there grew a birk,\nOut the other a bonny brier.\n75B.12 And ae they grew, and ae they threw,\nUntil they twa did meet,\nThat ilka ane might plainly see\nThey war twa lovers sweet.\n75C: Lord Lovel\n75C.1 LORD TRAVELL stands in his stable-door,\nDressing his milk-white steed,\nAn bye comes Lady Ounceville:\n\u2018I wish you muckle speed.\n75C.2 \u2018Oh whar are ye gaun, Lord Travell?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Whar are gaun frae me?\u2019\n\u2018I am gaun to London town,\nSome strange things for to see.\u2019\n75C.3 \u2018Whan will ye be back, Lord Travell?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Whan will ye be back to me?\u2019\n\u2018I will be back in seven lang years,\nTo wed my gay ladie.\u2019\n75C.4 \u2018Oh that is too lang for me,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Oh that is too lang for me;\nOh that is too lang for me,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018To wed thy gay ladie.\u2019\n75C.5 He hadna been in London town\nA week but only three,\nWhen a boding voice thirld in his ear,\nThat Scotland he maun see.\n75C.6 He rade an he rode alang the highway,\nTill he cam to yon little town:\n\u2018Oh is there ony body dead?\nThe bells they mak sic a sound.\u2019\n75C.7 He rade an he rode alang the highway,\nTill he cam to yon little town:\n\u2018Oh is there ony body dead?\nThe folk gae mournin round.\u2019\n75C.8 \u2018Oh yes indeed, there is ane dead,\nHer name is Ounceville;\nAn she has died for a courteous knicht,\nHis name is Lord Travell.\u2019\n75C.9 \u2018Oh hand ye aboot, ye gentlemen,\nThe white bread an the wine,\nFor the morn\u2019s nicht aboot this time\nYe\u2019ll do the same for mine!\u2019\n75D: Lord Lovel\n75D.1 LORD LOVEL stands at his stable-door,\nMounted upon a grey steed,\nAnd bye cam Ladie Nanciebel,\nAnd wishd Lord Lovel much speed.\n75D.2 \u2018O whare are ye going, Lord Lovel?\nMy dearest, tell unto me:\u2019\n\u2018I am going a far journey,\nSome strange countrey to see.\n75D.3 \u2018But I\u2019ll return in seven long years,\nLady Nanciebel to see:\u2019\n\u2018Oh seven, seven, seven long years,\nThey are much too long for me.\u2019\n* * * * *\n75D.4 He was gane about a year away,\nA year but barely ane,\nWhan a strange fancy cam intil his head\nThat faire Nanciebel was gane.\n75D.5 It\u2019s then he rade, and better rade,\nUntill he cam to the toun,\nAnd there he heard a dismal noise,\nFor the church bells au did soun.\n75D.6 He asked what the bells rang for;\nThey said, It\u2019s for Nanciebel;\nShe died for a discourteous squire,\nAnd his name is Lord Lovel.\n75D.7 The lid of the coffin he opened up,\nThe linens he faulded doun,\nAnd ae he kissd her pale, pale lips,\nAnd the tears cam trinkling doun.\n75D.8 \u2018Weill may I kiss these pale, pale lips,\nFor they will never kiss me;\nI\u2019ll mak a vow, and I\u2019ll keep it true,\nThat I\u2019ll neer kiss ane but thee.\u2019\n75D.9 Lady Nancie died on Tuesday\u2019s nicht,\nLord Lovel upon the niest day;\nLady Nancie died for pure, pure love,\nLord Lovel for deep sorraye.\n75E: Lord Lovel\n75E.1 \u2018NOW fare ye well, Lady Oonzabel,\nFor I must needs be gone,\nTo visit the king of fair Scotland,\nOh I must be up and ride.\u2019\n75E.2 So he called unto him his little foot-page,\nTo saddle his milk-white steed;\nRefrain: Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,\n75E.2 How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed!\n75E.3 He had not been in fair Scotland,\nNot passing half a year,\nWhen a lover-like thought came into his head,\nLady Oonzabel he would go see her.\n75E.4 So he called unto him his little foot-page,\nTo saddle his milk-white steed;\nRefrain: Hey down, hey down, hey derry, hey down,\n75E.4 How I wish my Lord Lovel good speed.\n75E.5 He had not been in fair England,\nNot passing half a day,\nWhen the bells of the high chappel did ring,\nAnd they made a loud sassaray.\n75E.6 He asked of an old gentleman\nWho was sitting there all alone,\nWhy the bells of the high chappel did ring,\nAnd the ladies were making a moan.\n75E.7 \u2018Oh, the king\u2019s fair daughter is dead,\u2019 said he;\n\u2018Her name\u2019s Lady Oonzabel;\nAnd she died for the love of a courteous young knight,\nAnd his name it is Lord Lovel.\u2019\n* * * * *\n75E.8 He caused the bier to be set down,\nThe winding sheet undone,\nAnd drawing forth his rapier bright,\nThrough his own true heart did it run.\n75E.9 Lady Oonzabel lies in the high chappel,\nLord Lovel he lies in the quier;\nAnd out of the one there grew up a white rose,\nAnd out of the other a brier.\n75E.10 And they grew, and they grew, to the high chappel top;\nThey could not well grow any higher;\nAnd they twined into a true lover\u2019s knot,\nSo in death they are joined together.\n75F: Lord Lovel\n75F.1 AS LORD LOVEL was at the stable-door,\nMounting his milk-white steed,\nWho came by but poor Nancy Bell,\nAnd she wished Lovel good speed.\n75F.2 \u2018O where are ye going, Lord Lovel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018How long to tarry from me?\u2019\n\u2018Before six months are past and gone,\nAgain I\u2019ll return to thee.\u2019\n75F.3 He had not been a twelvemonth away,\nA twelvemonth and a day,\nTill Nancy Bell grew sick and sad,\nShe pined and witherd away.\n75F.4 The very first town that he came to,\nHe heard the death-bell knell;\nThe very next town that he came to,\nThey said it was Nancy Bell.\n75F.5 He orderd the coffin to be broke open,\nThe sheet to be turned down,\nAnd then he kissd her cold pale lips,\nTill the tears ran tricklin down.\n75F.6 The one was buried in St. John\u2019s church,\nThe other in the choir;\nFrom Nancy Bell sprang a bonny red rose,\nFrom Lord Lovel a bonny briar.\n75F.7 They grew, and they grew, to the height o the church,\nTo they met from either side,\nAnd at the top a true lover\u2019s knot\nShows that one for the other had died.\n75G: Lord Lovel\n75G.1 LORD REVEL he stands in his stable-door,\nHe was dressing a milk-white steed;\nA lady she stands in her bour-door,\nA dressin with haste an speed.\n75G.2 \u2018O where are you goin, Lord Revel,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Where are you going from me?\u2019\n\u2018It\u2019s I am going to Lonnon toun,\nThat fair city for to see.\u2019\n75G.3 \u2018When will you be back, Lord Revel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018When will you be back to me?\u2019\n\u2018I will be back in the space of three years,\nTo wed you, my gey ladie.\u2019\n75G.4 \u2018That\u2019s too long a time for me,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018That\u2019s too long a time for me;\nFor I\u2019ll be dead long time ere that,\nFor want of your sweet companie.\u2019\n75G.5 He had not been in Lonnon toun\nA month but barely three,\nWhen word was brought that Isabell\nWas sick, an like to dee.\n75G.6 He had not been in Lonnon toun\nA year but barely ane,\nWhen word was brought from Lonnon toun\nThat Isabell was gane.\n75G.7 He rode an he rode along the high way,\nTill he came to Edenborrow toon:\nIs there any fair lady dead,\u2019 said he,\n\u2018That the bells gie such a tone?\u2019\n75G.8 \u2018Oh yes, there\u2019s a ladie, a very fine ladie,\nHer name it is Isabell;\nShe died for the sake of a young Scottish knight,\nHis name it is Lord Revel.\u2019\n75G.9 \u2018Deal well, deal well at Isabell\u2019s burial\nThe biscuit and the beer,\nAn gainst the morrow at this same time\nYou\u2019ll aye deal mair and mair.\n75G.10 \u2018Deal well, deal well at Isabell\u2019s burial\nThe white bread and the wine,\nAn gainst the morn at this same time\nYou\u2019ll deal the same at mine.\u2019\n75G.11 They dealt well, dealt weel at Isabell\u2019s burial\nThe biscuit an the beer,\nAnd gainst the morn at that same time\nThey dealt them mair an mair.\n75G.12 They dealt weel, dealt weel at Isabell\u2019s burial\nThe white bread an the wine,\nAn gainst the morn at that same time\nThey dealt the same again.\n75H: Lord Lovel\n75H.1 LORD LOVEL he stood at his castle-gate,\nCombing his milk-white steed,\nWhen up came Lady Nancy Belle,\nTo wish her lover good speed, speed,\nTo wish her lover good speed.\n75H.2 \u2018Where are you going, Lord Lovel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Oh where are you going?\u2019 said she;\n\u2018I\u2019m going, my Lady Nancy Belle,\nStrange countries for to see.\u2019\n75H.3 \u2018When will you be back, Lord Lovel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Oh when will you come back?\u2019 said she;\n\u2018In a year or two, or three, at the most,\nI\u2019ll return to my fair Nancy.\u2019\n75H.4 But he had not been gone a year and a day,\nStrange countries for to see,\nWhen languishing thoughts came into his head,\nLady Nancy Belle he would go see.\n75H.5 So he rode, and he rode, on his milk-white steed,\nTill he came to London town,\nAnd there he heard St Pancras bells,\nAnd the people all mourning round.\n75H.6 \u2018Oh what is the matter?\u2019 Lord Lovel he said,\n\u2018Oh what is the matter?\u2019 said he;\n\u2018A lord\u2019s lady is dead,\u2019 a woman replied,\n\u2018And some call her Lady Nancy.\u2019\n75H.7 So he ordered the grave to be opened wide,\nAnd the shroud he turned down,\nAnd there he kissed her clay-cold lips,\nTill the tears came trickling down.\n75H.8 Lady Nancy she died, as it might be, today,\nLord Lovel he died as tomorrow;\nLady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief,\nLord Lovel he died out of sorrow.\n75H.9 Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras church,\nLord Lovel was laid in the choir;\nAnd out of her bosom there grew a red rose,\nAnd out of her lover\u2019s a briar.\n75H.10 They grew, and they grew, to the church-steeple too,\nAnd then they could grow no higher;\nSo there they entwined in a true-lover\u2019s knot,\nFor all lovers true to admire.\n75I: Lord Lovel\n75I.1 There came a ghost to Helen\u2019s bower,\nWi monny a sigh and groan:\n\u2018O make yourself ready, at Wednesday at een,\nFair Helen, you must be gone.\u2019\n75I.2 \u2018O gay Death, O gallant Death,\nWill you spare my life sae lang\nUntill I send to merry Primrose,\nBid my dear lord come hame?\u2019\n75I.3 \u2018O gay Helen, O galant Helen,\nI winna spare you sae lang;\nBut make yoursell ready, again Wednesday at een,\nFair Helen, you must be gane.\u2019\n75I.4 \u2018O where will I get a bonny boy,\nThat would win hose and shoon,\nThat will rin fast to merry Primrose,\nBid my dear lord come soon?\u2019\n75I.5 O up and speak a little boy,\nThat would win hose and shoon:\n\u2018Aft have I gane your errants, lady,\nBut by my suth I\u2019ll rin.\u2019\n75I.6 When he came to broken briggs\nHe bent his bow and swam,\nAnd when he came to grass growing\nHe cast off his shoon and ran.\n75I.7 When he came to merry Primrose,\nHis lord he was at meat:\n\u2018O my lord, kend ye what I ken,\nRight little wad ye eat.\u2019\n75I.8 \u2018Is there onny of my castles broken doun,\nOr onny of my towers won?\nOr is Fair Helen brought to bed\nOf a doughter or a son?\u2019\n75I.9 \u2018There\u2019s nane of [your] castles broken doun,\nNor nane of your towers won,\nNor is Fair Helen brought to bed\nOf a doghter or a son.\u2019\n75I.10 \u2018Gar sadle me the black, black steed,\nGar sadle me the brown;\nGar sadle me the swiftest horse\nEer carried man to town.\u2019\n75I.11 First he bursted the bonny black,\nAnd then he bursted the brown,\nAnd then he bursted the swiftest steed\nEer carried man to town.\n75I.12 He hadna ridden a mile, a mile,\nA mile but barelins ten,\nWhen he met four and twenty gallant knights,\ncarrying a dead coffin.\n75I.13 \u2018Set down, set down Fair Helen\u2019s corps,\nLet me look on the dead;\u2019\nAnd out he took a little pen-knife,\nAnd he screeded the winding-sheet.\n75I.14 O first he kist her rosy cheek,\nAnd then he kist her chin,\nAnd then he kist her coral lips,\nBut there\u2019s nae life in within.\n75I.15 \u2018Gar deal, gar deal the bread,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018The bread bat an the wine,\nAnd at the morn at twelve o\u2019clock\nYe\u2019s gain as much at mine.\u2019\n75I.16 The tane was buried in Mary\u2019s kirk,\nThe tother in Mary\u2019s choir,\nAnd out of the tane there sprang a birch,\nAnd out of the tother a briar.\n75I.17 The tops of them grew far sundry,\nBut the roots of them grew neer,\nAnd ye may easy ken by that\nThey were twa lovers dear.\n75[J]: Lord Lovel\n75[J].1 Lord Lovel was standing at his stable-door,\nKaiming down his milk-white steed,\nWhen by came Lady Anzibel,\nWas wishing Lord Lovel good speed, good speed,\nWas wishing Lord Lovel good speed.\n75[J.2] \u2018O where are you going, Lord Lovel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018O where are you going?\u2019 said she:\n\u2018I\u2019m going unto England,\nAnd there a fair lady to see.\u2019\n75[J.3] \u2018How long will you stay, Lord Lovel?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018How long will you stay?\u2019 says she:\n\u2018O three short years will soon go by,\nAnd then I\u2019ll come back to thee.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 75. Lord Lovel","type":"page"}