{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch082.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch082.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch082.htm","text":"82.1 THERE was a knight, in a summer\u2019s night,\nWas riding oer the lee, diddle\nAn there he saw a bonny birdy,\nWas singing upon a tree. diddle\n82.1b O wow for day! diddle\nAn dear gin it were day! diddle\nGin it were day, an gin I were away!\nFor I ha na lang time to stay. diddle\n82.2 \u2018Make hast, make hast, ye gentle knight,\nWhat keeps you here so late?\nGin ye kent what was doing at hame,\nI fear you woud look blate.\u2019\n82.3 \u2018O what needs I toil day an night,\nMy fair body to kill,\nWhan I hae knights at my comman,\nAn ladys at my will?\u2019\n82.4 \u2018Ye lee, ye lee, ye gentle knight,\nSa loud\u2019s I hear you lee;\nYour lady\u2019s a knight in her arms twa\nThat she lees far better nor the.\u2019\n82.5 \u2018Ye lee, you lee, you bonny birdy,\nHow you lee upo my sweet!\nI will tak out my bonny bow,\nAn in troth I will you sheet.\u2019\n82.6 \u2018But afore ye hae your bow well bent,\nAn a\u2019 your arrows yare,\nI will flee till another tree,\nWhare I can better fare.\u2019\n82.7 \u2018O whare was you gotten, and whare was ye clecked?\nMy bonny birdy, tell me:\u2019\n\u2018O I was clecked in good green wood,\nMy bonny birdy, tell me:\u2019\n\u2018O I was clecked in good green wood,\nIntill a holly tree;\nA gentleman my nest herryed,\nAn ga me to his lady.\n82.8 \u2018Wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk\nHe bade her feed me aft,\nAn ga her a little wee simmer-dale wanny,\nTo ding me sindle and saft.\n82.9 \u2018Wi good white bread an farrow-cow milk\nI wot she fed me nought,\nBut wi a little wee simmer-dale wanny\nShe dang me sair an aft:\nGin she had deen as ye her bade,\nI woudna tell how she has wrought.\u2019\n82.10 The knight he rade, and the birdy flew,\nThe live-lang simmer\u2019s night,\nTill he came till his lady\u2019s bowr-door,\nThen even down he did light:\nThe birdy sat on the crap of a tree,\nAn I wot it sang fu dight.\n82.11b \u2018O wow for day! diddle\nAn dear gin it were day! diddle\nGin it were day, an gin I were away!\nFor I ha na lang time to stay.\u2019 diddle\n82.12 \u2018What needs ye lang for day, diddle.\nAn wish that you were away? diddle\nIs no your hounds i my cellar,\nEating white meal an gray?\u2019 diddle\n82.12b O wow, etc.\n82.13 \u2018Is nae your steed in my stable,\nEating good corn an hay?\nAn is nae your hawk i my perch-tree,\nJust perching for his prey?\nAn is nae yoursel i my arms twa?\nThen how can ye lang for day?\u2019\n82.14b \u2018O wow for day! diddle\nAn dear gin it were day! diddle\n?? \u2018O wow for day! diddle\nAn dear gin it were day! diddle\n?? \u2018O wow for day! diddle\nAn dear gin it were day! diddle\nFor he that\u2019s in bed wi anither man\u2019s wife\nHas never lang time to stay.\u2019 diddle\n82.15 Then out the knight has drawn his sword,\nAn straiked it oer a strae,\nAn thro and thro the fa\u2019se knight\u2019s waste\nHe gard cauld iron gae:\nAn I hope ilk ane sal sae be servd\nThat treats ane honest man sae.","title":"The Child Ballads: 82. The Bonny Birdy","type":"page"}