{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch077.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch077.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch077.htm","text":"77A.1 THERE came a ghost to Margret\u2019s door,\nWith many a grievous groan,\nAnd ay he tirled at the pin,\nBut answer made she none.\n77A.2 \u2018Is that my father Philip,\nOr is\u2019t my brother John?\nOr is\u2019t my true-love, Willy,\nFrom Scotland new come home?\u2019\n77A.3 \u2018\u2019Tis not thy father Philip,\nNor yet thy brother John;\nBut \u2019tis thy true-love, Willy,\nFrom Scotland new come home.\n77A.4 \u2018O sweet Margret, O dear Margret,\nI pray thee speak to me;\nGive me my faith and troth, Margret,\nAs I gave it to thee.\u2019\n77A.5 \u2018Thy faith and troth thou\u2019s never get,\nNor yet will I thee lend,\nTill that thou come within my bower,\nAnd kiss my cheek and chin.\u2019\n77A.6 \u2018If I shoud come within thy bower,\nI am no earthly man;\nAnd shoud I kiss thy rosy lips,\nThy days will not be lang.\n77A.7 \u2018O sweet Margret, O dear Margret,\nI pray thee speak to me;\nGive me my faith and troth, Margret,\nAs I gave it to thee.\u2019\n77A.8 \u2018Thy faith and troth thou\u2019s never get,\nNor yet will I thee lend,\nTill you take me to yon kirk,\nAnd wed me with a ring.\u2019\n77A.9 \u2018My bones are buried in yon kirk-yard,\nAfar beyond the sea,\nAnd it is but my spirit, Margret,\nThat\u2019s now speaking to thee.\u2019\n77A.10 She stretchd out her lilly-white hand,\nAnd, for to do her best,\n\u2018Hae, there\u2019s your faith and troth, Willy,\nGod send your soul good rest.\u2019\n77A.11 Now she has kilted her robes of green\nA piece below her knee,\nAnd a\u2019 the live-lang winter night\nThe dead corp followed she.\n77A.12 \u2018Is there any room at your head, Willy?\nOr any room at your feet?\nOr any room at your side, Willy,\nWherein that I may creep?\u2019\n77A.13 \u2018There\u2019s no room at my head, Margret,\nThere\u2019s no room at my feet;\nThere\u2019s no room at my side, Margret,\nMy coffin\u2019s made so meet.\u2019\n77A.14 Then up and crew the red, red cock,\nAnd up then crew the gray:\n\u2018Tis time, tis time, my dear Margret,\nThat you were going away.\u2019\n77A.15 No more the ghost to Margret said,\nBut, with a grievous groan,\nEvanishd in a cloud of mist,\nAnd left her all alone.\n77A.16 \u2018O stay, my only true-love, stay,\u2019\nThe constant Margret cry\u2019d;\nWan grew her cheeks, she closd her een,\nStretchd her soft limbs, and dy\u2019d.\n77B: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n77B.1 WHAN bells war rung, an mass was sung,\nA wat a\u2019 man to bed were gone,\nClark Sanders came to Margret\u2019s window,\nWith mony a sad sigh and groan.\n77B.2 \u2018Are ye sleeping, Margret,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Or are ye waking, presentlie?\nGive me my faith and trouthe again,\nA wat, trew-love, I gied to thee.\u2019\n77B.3 \u2018Your faith and trouth ye\u2019s never get,\nNor our trew love shall never twain,\nTill ye come with me in my bower,\nAnd kiss me both cheek and chin.\u2019\n77B.4 \u2018My mouth it is full cold, Margret,\nIt has the smell now of the ground;\nAnd if I kiss thy comely mouth,\nThy life-days will not be long.\n77B.5 \u2018Cocks are crowing a merry mid-larf,\nI wat the wild fule boded day;\nGie me my faith and trouthe again,\nAnd let me fare me on my way.\u2019\n77B.6 \u2018Thy faith and trouth thou shall na get,\nNor our trew love shall never twin,\nTill ye tell me what comes of women\nAwat that dy\u2019s in strong traveling.\u2019\n77B.7 \u2018Their beds are made in the heavens high,\nDown at the foot of our good Lord\u2019s knee,\nWell set about wi gilly-flowers,\nA wat sweet company for to see.\n77B.8 \u2018O cocks are crowing a merry midd-larf,\nA wat the wilde foule boded day;\nThe salms of Heaven will be sung,\nAnd ere now I\u2019le be misst away.\u2019\n77B.9 Up she has tain a bright long wand,\nAnd she has straked her trouth thereon;\nShe has given [it] him out at the shot-window,\nWi many a sad sigh and heavy groan.\n77B.10 \u2018I thank you, Margret, I thank you, Margret,\nAnd I thank you hartilie;\nGine ever the dead come for the quick,\nBe sure, Margret, I\u2019ll come again for thee.\u2019\n77B.11 It\u2019s hose an shoon an gound alane\nShe clame the wall and followed him,\nUntill she came to a green forest,\nOn this she lost the sight of him.\n77B.12 \u2018Is their any room at your head, Sanders?\nIs their any room at your feet?\nOr any room at your twa sides?\nWhare fain, fain woud I sleep.\u2019\n77B.13 \u2018Their is na room at my head, Margret,\nTheir is na room at my feet;\nThere is room at my twa sides,\nFor ladys for to sleep.\n77B.14 \u2018Cold meal is my covering owre,\nBut an my winding sheet;\nMy bed it is full low, I say,\nDown among the hongerey worms I sleep.\n77B.15 \u2018Cold meal is my covering owre,\nBut an my winding sheet;\nThe dew it falls na sooner down\nThen ay it is full weet.\u2019\n77C: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n77C.1 LADY MARJORIE, Lady Marjorie,\nSat sewing her silken seam;\nBy her came a pale, pale ghost,\nWith many a sich and mane.\n77C.2 \u2018Are ye my father, the king?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or are ye my brother John?\nOr are you my true-love, Sweet William,\nFrom England newly come?\u2019\n77C.3 \u2018I\u2019m not your father, the king,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018No, no, nor your brother John;\nBut I\u2019m your true love, Sweet William,\nFrom England that\u2019s newly come.\u2019\n77C.4 \u2018Have ye brought me any scarlets so red?\nOr any silks so fine?\nOr have ye brought me any precious things,\nThat merchants have for sale?\u2019\n77C.5 \u2018I have not brought you any scarlets sae red,\nNo, no, nor the silks so fine;\nBut I have brought you my winding-sheet,\nOer many\u2019s the rock and hill.\n77C.6 \u2018O Lady Marjory, Lady Marjory,\nFor faith and charitie,\nWill you give to me my faith and troth,\nThat I gave once to thee?\u2019\n77C.7 \u2018O your faith and troth I\u2019ll not give thee,\nNo, no, that will not I,\nUntil I get one kiss of your ruby lips,\nAnd in my arms you come [lye].\u2019\n77C.8 \u2018My lips they are so bitter,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018My breath it is so strong,\nIf you get one kiss of my ruby lips,\nYour days will not be long.\n77C.9 \u2018The cocks they are crowing, Marjory,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018The cocks they are crawing again;\nIt\u2019s time the deid should part the quick,\nMarjorie, I must be gane.\u2019\n77C.10 She followed him high, she followed him low,\nTill she came to yon church-yard;\nO there the grave did open up,\nAnd young William he lay down.\n77C.11 \u2018What three things are these, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018That stands here at your head?\u2019\n\u2018It\u2019s three maidens, Marjorie,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018That I promised once to wed.\u2019\n77C.12 \u2018What three things are these, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018That stands here at your side?\u2019\n\u2018It is three babes, Marjorie,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018That these three maidens had.\u2019\n77C.13 \u2018What three things are these, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018That stands here at your feet?\u2019\nIt is three hell-hounds, Marjorie,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018That\u2019s waiting my soul to keep.\u2019\n77C.14 She took up her white, white hand,\nAnd she struck him in the breast,\nSaying, Have there again your faith and troth,\nAnd I wish your soul good rest.\n77D: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n77D.1 LADY MARGARET was in her wearie room,\nSewin her silken seam,\nAnd in cam Willie, her true-love,\nFrae Lundin new come hame.\n77D.2 \u2018O are ye my father Philip,\nOr are ye my brither John?\nOr are ye my true-love, Willie,\nFrae London new come home?\u2019\n77D.3 \u2018I\u2019m nae your father Philip,\nNor am I your brother John;\nBut I am your true-love, Willie,\nAn I\u2019m nae a levin man.\n77D.4 \u2018But gie me my faith and troth, Margrat,\nAn let me pass on my way;\nFor the bells o heaven will be rung,\nAn I\u2019ll be mist away.\u2019\n77D.5 \u2018Yere faith and troth ye\u2019se never get,\nTill ye tell me this ane;\nTill ye tell me where the women go\nThat hang themsell for sin.\u2019\n77D.6 \u2018O they gang till the low, low hell,\nJust by the devil\u2019s knee;\nIt\u2019s a\u2019 clad ower wi burnin pitch,\nA dreadfu sicht to see.\u2019\n77D.7 \u2018But your faith and troth ye\u2019se never get,\nTill you tell me again;\nTill you tell me where the children go\nThat die without a name.\u2019\n77D.8 \u2018O they gang till the high, high heaven,\nJust by our Saviour\u2019s knee,\nAn it\u2019s a\u2019 clad ower wi roses red,\nA lovelie sicht to see.\n77D.9 \u2018But gie me my faith and troth, Margrat,\nAnd let me pass on my way;\nFor the psalms o heaven will be sung,\nAn I\u2019ll be mist away.\u2019\n77D.10 \u2018But your faith and troth yese never get\nTill ye tell me again;\nTill ye tell me where the women go\nThat die in child-beddin.\u2019\n77D.11 \u2018O they gang till the hie, hie heaven,\nJust by our Saviour\u2019s knee,\nAnd every day at twal o clock\nThey\u2019re dipped oer the head.\n77D.12 \u2018But gie me my faith and troth, Margret,\nAnd let me pass on my way;\nFor the gates o heaven will be shut,\nAnd I\u2019ll be mist away.\u2019\n77D.13 Then she has taen a silver key,\nGien him three times on the breast;\nSays, There\u2019s your faith and troth, Willie,\nI hope your soul will rest.\n77D.14 \u2018But is there room at your head, Willie?\nOr is there room at your feet?\nOr is there room at any o your sides,\nTo let in a lover sweet?\u2019\n77D.15 \u2018There is nae room at my head, Margrat,\nThere\u2019s nae room at my feet,\nBut there is room at baith my sides,\nTo lat in a lover sweet.\u2019\n77E: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n77E.1 \u2018AS May Margret sat in her bouerie,\nIn her bouer all alone,\nAt the very parting o midnicht\nShe heard a mournfu moan.\n77E.2 \u2018O is it my father? O is it my mother?\nOr is it my brother John?\nOr is it Sweet William, my ain true-love,\nTo Scotland new come home?\u2019\n77E.3 \u2018It is na your father, it is na your mother,\nIt is na your brother John;\nBut it is Sweet William, your ain true-love,\nTo Scotland new come home.\u2019\n77E.4 \u2018Hae ye brought me onie fine things,\nOnie new thing for to wear?\nOr hae ye brought me a braid o lace,\nTo snood up my gowden hair?\u2019\n77E.5 \u2018I\u2019ve brought ye na fine things at all,\nNor onie new thing to wear,\nNor hae I brought ye a braid of lace,\nTo snood up your gowden hair.\n77E.6 \u2018But Margaret, dear Margaret,\nI pray ye speak to me;\nO gie me back my faith and troth,\nAs dear as I gied it thee.\u2019\n77E.7 \u2018Your faith and troth ye sanna get,\nNor will I wi ye twin,\nTill ye come within my bouer,\nAnd kiss me, cheek and chin.\u2019\n77E.8 \u2018O should I come within your bouer,\nI am na earthly man;\nIf I should kiss your red, red lips,\nYour days wad na be lang.\n77E.9 \u2018O Margaret, dear Margaret,\nI pray ye speak to me;\nO gie me back my faith and troth,\nAs dear as I gied it thee.\u2019\n77E.10 \u2018Your faith and troth ye sanna get,\nNor will I wi ye twin,\nTill ye tak me to yonder kirk,\nAnd wed me wi a ring.\u2019\n77E.11 \u2018My banes are buried in yon kirk-yard,\nIt\u2019s far ayont the sea;\nAnd it is my spirit, Margaret,\nThat\u2019s speaking unto thee.\u2019\n77E.12 \u2018Your faith and troth ye sanna get,\nNor will I twin wi thee,\nTill ye tell me the pleasures o heaven,\nAnd pains of hell how they be.\u2019\n77E.13 \u2018The pleasures of heaven I wat not of,\nBut the pains of hell I dree;\nThere some are hie hangd for huring,\nAnd some for adulterie.\u2019\n77E.14 \u2018Then Margret took her milk-white hand,\nAnd smoothd it on his breast:\n\u2018Tak your faith and troth, William,\nGod send your soul good rest!\u2019\n77F: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n77F.1 WHEN seven years were come and gane,\nLady Margaret she thought lang;\nAnd she is up to the hichest tower,\nBy the lee licht o the moon.\n77F.2 She was lookin oer her castle high,\nTo see what she might fa,\nAnd there she saw a grieved ghost,\nComin waukin oer the wa.\n77F.3 \u2018O are ye a man of mean,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Seekin ony o my meat?\nOr are you a rank robber,\nCome in my bower to break?\u2019\n77F.4 \u2018O I\u2019m Clerk Saunders, your true-love,\nBehold, Margaret, and see,\nAnd mind, for a\u2019 your meikle pride,\nSae will become of thee.\u2019\n77F.5 \u2018Gin ye be Clerk Saunders, my true-love,\nThis meikle marvels me;\nO wherein is your bonny arms,\nThat wont to embrace me?\u2019\n77F.6 \u2018By worms they\u2019re eaten, in mools they\u2019re rotten,\nBehold, Margaret, and see,\nAnd mind, for a\u2019 your mickle pride,\nSae will become o thee.\u2019\n* * * * *\n* * * * *\n77F.7 \u2018O, bonny, bonny sang the bird,\nSat on the coil o hay;\nBut dowie, dowie was the maid\nThat followd the corpse o clay.\n77F.8 \u2018Is there ony room at your head, Saunders?\nIs there ony room at your feet?\nIs there ony room at your twa sides,\nFor a lady to lie and sleep?\u2019\n77F.9 \u2018There is nae room at my head, Margaret,\nAs little at my feet;\nThere is nae room at my twa sides,\nFor a lady to lie and sleep.\n77F.10 \u2018But gae hame, gae hame now, May Margaret,\nGae hame and sew your seam;\nFor if ye were laid in your weel made bed,\nYour days will nae be lang.\u2019\n77G: Sweet William\u2019s Ghost\n* * * *\n77G.1 BUT plait a wand o bonny birk,\nAnd lay it on my breast,\nAnd shed a tear upon my grave,\nAnd wish my saul gude rest.\n77G.2 \u2018And fair Margret, and rare Margret,\nAnd Margret o veritie,\nGin eer ye love another man,\nNeer love him as ye did me.\u2019\n77G.3 Then up and crew the milk-white cock,\nAnd up and crew the grey;\nThe lover vanishd in the air,\nAnd she gaed weeping away.","title":"The Child Ballads: 77. Sweet William's Ghost","type":"page"}