{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch088.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch088.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch088.htm","text":"88A.1 THE knight stands in the stable-door,\nAs he was for to ryde,\nWhen out then came his fair lady,\nDesiring him to byde.\n88A.2 \u2018How can I byde? how dare I byde?\nHow can I byde with thee?\nHave I not killd thy ae brother?\nThou hadst nae mair but he.\u2019\n88A.3 \u2018If you have killd my ae brother,\nAlas, and woe is me!\nBut if I save your fair body,\nThe better you\u2019ll like me.\u2019\n88A.4 She\u2019s tane him to her secret bower,\nPinnd with a siller pin,\nAnd she\u2019s up to her highest tower,\nTo watch that none come in.\n88A.5 She had na well gane up the stair,\nAnd entered in her tower,\nWhen four and twenty armed knights\nCame riding to the door.\n88A.6 \u2018Now God you save, my fair lady,\nI pray you tell to me,\nSaw you not a wounded knight\nCome riding by this way?\u2019\n88A.7 \u2018Yes, bloody, bloody was his sword,\nAnd bloody were his hands;\nBut if the steed he rides be good,\nHe\u2019s past fair Scotland\u2019s strands.\n88A.8 \u2018Light down, light down then, gentlemen,\nAnd take some bread and wine;\nThe better you will him pursue\nWhen you shall lightly dine.\u2019\n88A.9 \u2018We thank you for your bread, lady,\nWe thank you for your wine;\nI would gie thrice three thousand pounds\nYour fair body was mine.\u2019\n88A.10 Then she\u2019s gane to her secret bower,\nHer husband dear to meet;\nBut he drew out his bloody sword,\nAnd wounded her sae deep.\n88A.11 \u2018What aileth thee now, good my lord?\nWhat aileth thee at me?\nHave you not got my father\u2019s gold,\nBut and my mother\u2019s fee?\u2019\n88A.12 \u2018Now live, now live, my fair lady,\nO live but half an hour,\nThere\u2019s neer a leech in fair Scotland\nBut shall be at thy bower.\u2019\n88A.13 \u2018How can I live? how shall I live?\nHow can I live for thee?\nSee you not where my red heart\u2019s blood\nRuns trickling down my knee?\u2019\n88B: Young Johnstone\n88B.1 YOUNG Johnstone and the young Colnel\nSat drinking at the wine:\n\u2018O gin ye wad marry my sister,\nIt\u2019s I wad marry thine.\u2019\n88B.2 \u2018I wadna marry your sister\nFor a\u2019 your houses and land;\nBut I\u2019ll keep her for my leman,\nWhen I come oer the strand.\n88B.3 \u2018I wadna marry your sister\nFor a\u2019 your gowd so gay;\nBut I\u2019ll keep her for my leman,\nWhen I come by the way.\u2019\n88B.4 Young Johnstone had a little small sword,\nHung low down by his gair,\nAnd he stabbed it through the young Colnel,\nThat word he neer spak mair.\n88B.5 But he\u2019s awa to his sister\u2019s bower,\nHe\u2019s tirled at the pin:\n\u2018Where hae ye been, my dear brither,\nSae late a coming in?\u2019\n\u2018I hae been at the school, sister,\nLearning young clerks to sing.\u2019\n88B.6 \u2018I\u2019ve dreamed a dreary dream this night,\nI wish it may be for good;\nThey were seeking you with hawks and hounds,\nAnd the young Colnel was dead.\u2019\n88B.7 \u2018Hawks and hounds they may seek me,\nAs I trow well they be;\nFor I have killed the young Colnel,\nAnd thy own true-love was he.\u2019\n88B.8 \u2018If ye hae killed the young Colnel,\nO dule and wae is me!\nBut I wish ye may be hanged on a hie gallows,\nAnd hae nae power to flee.\u2019\n88B.9 And he\u2019s awa to his true-love\u2019s bower,\nHe\u2019s tirled at the pin:\n\u2018Whar hae ye been, my dear Johnstone,\nSae late a coming in?\u2019\n\u2018It\u2019s I hae been at the school,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Learning young clerks to sing.\u2019\n88B.10 \u2018I have dreamed a dreary dream,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018I wish it may be for good;\nThey were seeking you with hawks and hounds,\nAnd the young Colnel was dead.\u2019\n88B.11 \u2018Hawks and hounds they may seek me,\nAs I trow well they be;\nFor I hae killed the young Colnel,\nAnd thy ae brother was he.\u2019\n88B.12 \u2018If ye hae killed the young Colnel,\nO dule and wae is me!\nBut I care the less for the young Colnel,\nIf thy ain body be free.\n88B.13 \u2018Come in, come in, my dear Johnstone,\nCome in and take a sleep;\nAnd I will go to my casement,\nAnd carefully I will thee keep.\u2019\n88B.14 He had not weel been in her bower-door,\nNo not for half an hour,\nWhen four and twenty belted knights\nCame riding to the bower.\n88B.15 \u2018Well may you sit and see, lady,\nWell may you sit and say;\nDid you not see a bloody squire\nCome riding by this way?\u2019\n88B.16 \u2018What colour were his hawks?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018What colour were his hounds?\nWhat colour was the gallant steed,\nThat bore him from the bounds?\u2019\n88B.17 \u2018Bloody, bloody were his hawks,\nAnd bloody were his hounds;\nBut milk-white was the gallant steed,\nThat bore him from the bounds.\n88B.18 \u2018Yes, bloody, bloody were his hawks,\nAnd bloody were his hounds;\nAnd milk-white was the gallant steed,\nThat bore him from the bounds.\n88B.19 \u2018Light down, light down now, gentlemen,\nAnd take some bread and wine;\nAnd the steed be swift that he rides on,\nHe\u2019s past the brig o Lyne.\u2019\n88B.20 \u2018We thank you for your bread, fair lady,\nWe thank you for your wine;\nBut I wad gie thrice three thousand pound\nThat bloody knight was taen.\u2019\n88B.21 \u2018Lie still, lie still, my dear Johnstone,\nLie still and take a sleep;\nFor thy enemies are past and gone,\nAnd carefully I will thee keep.\u2019\n88B.22 But Young Johnstone had a little wee sword,\nHung low down by his gair,\nAnd he stabbed it in fair Annet\u2019s breast,\nA deep wound and a sair.\n88B.23 \u2018What aileth thee now, dear Johnstone?\nWhat aileth thee at me?\nHast thou not got my father\u2019s gold,\nBot and my mither\u2019s fee?\u2019\n88B.24 \u2018Now live, now live, my dear ladye,\nNow live but half an hour,\nAnd there\u2019s no a leech in a\u2019 Scotland\nBut shall be in thy bower.\u2019\n88B.25 \u2018How can I live? how shall I live?\nYoung Johnstone, do not you see\nThe red, red drops o my bonny heart\u2019s blood\nRin trinkling down my knee?\n88B.26 \u2018But take thy harp into thy hand,\nAnd harp out owre you plain,\nAnd neer think mair on thy true-love\nThan if she had never been.\u2019\n88B.27 He hadna weel been out o the stable,\nAnd on his saddle set,\nTill four and twenty broad arrows\nWere thrilling in his heart.\n88C: Young Johnstone\n88C.1 SWEET WILLIAM and the young Colnel\nOne day was drinking wine:\n\u2018It\u2019s I will marry your sister,\nIf ye will marry mine.\u2019\n88C.2 \u2018I will not marry your sister,\nAltho her hair be brown;\nBut I\u2019ll keep her for my liberty-wife,\nAs I ride thro the town.\u2019\n88C.3 William, having his two-edged sword,\nHe leaned quite low to the ground,\nAnd he has given the young Colnel\nA deep and a deadly wound.\n88C.4 He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,\nTill he came to his mother\u2019s bower;\n\u2018O open, open, mother,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And let your auld son in.\n88C.5 \u2018For the rain rains owre my yellow hair,\nAnd the dew draps on my chin,\nAnd trembling stands the gallant steed\nThat carries me from the ground.\u2019\n88C.6 \u2018What aileth thee, Sweet William?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018What harm now hast thou done?\u2019\n\u2018Oh I hae killed the young Colnel,\nAnd his heart\u2019s blood sair does run.\u2019\n88C.7 \u2018If ye hae killed the young Colnel,\nNae shelter ye\u2019ll get frae me;\nMay the two-edged sword be upon your heart,\nThat never hath power to flee!\u2019\n88C.8 He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,\nTill he came to his sister\u2019s bower;\n\u2018Oh open, open, sister,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And let your brother in.\n88C.9 \u2018For the rain rains on my yellow hair,\nAnd the dew draps on my chin,\nAnd trembling stands the gallant steed\nThat carries me from the ground.\u2019\n88C.10 \u2018What aileth thee, Sweet William?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018What harm now hast thou done?\u2019\n\u2018Oh I have killed the young Colnel,\nAnd his heart\u2019s blood sair doth run.\u2019\n88C.11 \u2018If ye hae killed the young Colnel,\nNae shelter ye\u2019ll get frae me;\nMay the two-edged sword be upon your heart,\nThat never hath power to flee!\u2019\n88C.12 He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,\nTill he came to his true-love\u2019s bower;\n\u2018Oh open, oh open, my true-love,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And let your sweetheart in.\n88C.13 \u2018For the rain rains on my yellow hair,\nAnd the dew draps on my chin,\nAnd trembling stands the gallant steed\nThat carries me from the ground.\u2019\n88C.14 \u2018What aileth thee, Sweet William?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018What harm now hast thou done?\u2019\n\u2018Oh I hae killed thy brother dear,\nAnd his heart\u2019s blood sair doth run.\u2019\n88C.15 \u2018If ye hae killed my brother dear,\nIt\u2019s oh and alace for me!\nBut between the blankets and the sheets\nIt\u2019s there I will hide thee!\u2019\n88C.16 She\u2019s taen him by the milk-white hand,\nShe\u2019s led him thro chambers three,\nUntil she came to her own chamber:\n\u2018It\u2019s there I will hide thee.\n88C.17 \u2018Lye down, lye down, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Lye down and take a sleep;\nIt\u2019s owre the chamber I will watch,\nThy fair bodie to keep.\u2019\n88C.18 She had not watched at the chamber-door\nAn hour but only three,\nTill four and twenty belted knichts\nDid seek his fair bodie.\n88C.19 \u2018O did you see the hunt?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or did you see the hounds?\nOr did you see that gallant steed,\nThat last rade thro the town?\u2019\n88C.20 \u2018What colour was the fox?\u2019 they said,\n\u2018What colour was the hounds?\nWhat colour was the gallant steed,\nThat\u2019s far yont London toun?\u2019\n88C.21 \u2018O dark grey was the fox,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And light grey was the hounds,\nBut milk-white was the gallant steed\nThat\u2019s far yont London town.\u2019\n88C.22 \u2018Rise up, rise up, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Rise up, and go away;\nFor four and twenty belted knights\nWere seeking thy bodye.\u2019\n88C.23 Sweet William, having his two-edged sword,\nHe leaned it quite low to the ground,\nAnd he has given his own true-love\nA deep and deadly wound.\n88C.24 \u2018What aileth thee, Sweet William?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018What harm now have I done?\nI never harmed a hair of your head\nSince ever this love began.\u2019\n88C.25 \u2018Oh live, oh live, my own true-love,\nOh live but half an hour,\nAnd the best doctor in London town\nShall come within thy bower.\u2019\n88C.26 \u2018How can I live? how shall I live?\nHow can I live half an hour?\nFor don\u2019t you see my very heart\u2019s blood\nAll sprinkled on the floor?\u2019\n88C.27 William, having his two-edged sword,\nHe leaned it quite low to the ground,\nAnd he has given his own bodie\nA deep and deadly wound.\n88D: Young Johnstone\n88D.1 JOHNSTON HEY and Young Caldwell\nWere drinking o the wine:\n\u2018O will ye marry my sister?\nAnd I will marry thine.\u2019\n88D.2 \u2018I winna marry your sister,\nAltho her locks are broun;\nBut I\u2019ll make her my concubine,\nAs I ride through the toun.\u2019\n88D.3 Syne Johnston drew a gude braid sword,\nThat hang down by his knee,\nAnd he has run the Young Caldwell\nOut through the fair bodie.\n88D.4 Up he gat, and awa he rade,\nBy the clear light o the moon,\nUntil he came to his mother\u2019s door,\nAnd there he lichtit doun.\n88D.5 \u2018Whare hae ye been, son Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Sae late and far in the night?\u2019\n\u2018O I hae been at yon new slate house,\nHearing the clergy speak.\u2019\n88D.6 \u2018I dreamd a dream, son Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018I doubt it bodes nae gude;\nThat your ain room was fu o red swine,\nAnd your bride\u2019s bed daubd wi blude.\u2019\n88D.7 \u2018To dream o blude, mither,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018It bodeth meikle ill;\nAnd I hae slain a Young Caldwell,\nAnd they\u2019re seeking me to kill.\u2019\n88D.8 \u2018Gin ye hae slain a Young Caldwell,\nAlace and wae is me!\nBut gin your fair body\u2019s free frae skaith,\nThe easier I will be.\u2019\n88D.9 Up he gat, and awa he rade,\nBy the clear licht o the mune,\nUntil he cam to his sister\u2019s bower,\nAnd there he lichtit doun.\n88D.10 \u2018Whare hae ye been, brither,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Sae late and far in the night?\u2019\n\u2018O I hae been in yon new slate house,\nHearing the clergy speak.\u2019\n88D.11 \u2018I dreamd a dream, brither,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018I doubt it bodes nae gude;\nI dreamd the ravens eat your flesh,\nAnd the lions drank your blude.\u2019\n88D.12 \u2018To dream o blude, sister,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018It bodeth meikle ill;\nAnd I hae slain a Young Caldwell,\nAnd they\u2019re seeking me to kill.\u2019\n88D.13 \u2018Gin ye hae slain a Young Caldwell,\nAlace and wae is me!\nTo be torn at the tail o wild horses\nIs the death I weet ye\u2019ll die.\u2019\n88D.14 Up he gat, and awa he rade,\nBy the clear light o the mune,\nUntill he cam to his true-love\u2019s bower,\nAnd there he lichtit doun.\n88D.15 \u2018Whare hae ye been, Love Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Sae late and far in the night?\u2019\n\u2018O I hae been in yon new sklate house,\nHearing the clergy speak.\u2019\n88D.16 \u2018I dreamd a dream, Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018I doubt it bodes nae gude;\nI dreamd the ravens ate your flesh,\nAnd the lions drank your blude.\u2019\n88D.17 \u2018To dream o ravens, love,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Is the loss o a near friend;\nAnd I hae killed your brither dear,\nAnd for it I\u2019ll be slain.\u2019\n88D.18 \u2018Gin ye hae slain my ae brither,\nAlace and wae is me!\nBut gin your fair body\u2019s free frae skaith,\nThe easier I will be.\n88D.19 \u2018Lye doun, lye doun, Love Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Lye doun and tak a sleep;\nAnd I will walk the castel wa,\nYour fair bodie to keep.\u2019\n88D.20 He laid him doun within her bowr,\nShe happit him wi her plaid,\nAnd she\u2019s awa to the castle-wa,\nTo see what would betide.\n88D.21 She hadna gane the castle round\nA time but only three,\nTill four and twenty beltit knichts\nCam riding ower the lea.\n88D.22 And whan they came unto the gate,\nThey stude and thus did say:\n\u2018O did ye see yon bludie knicht,\nAs he rade out this way?\u2019\n88D.23 \u2018What colour was his hawk?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018What colour was his hound?\nWhat colour was the gudely steed\nThe bludie knicht rade on?\u2019\n88D.24 \u2018Nut-brown was his hawk,\u2019 they said,\n\u2018And yellow-fit was his hound,\nAnd milk-white was the goodly steed\nThe bluidie knicht rade on.\u2019\n88D.25 \u2018Gin nut-brown was his hawk,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And yellow-fit was his hound,\nAnd milk-white was the gudely steed,\nHe\u2019s up to London gone.\u2019\n88D.26 They spurrd their steeds out ower the lea,\nThey being void o fear;\nSyne up she gat, and awa she gade,\nWi tidings to her dear.\n88D.27 \u2018Lye still, lye still, Love Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Lye still and tak your sleep;\u2019\nSyne he took up his good braid sword,\nAnd wounded her fu deep.\n88D.28 \u2018O wae be to you, Love Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And an ill death may ye die!\nFor first ye slew my ae brither,\nAnd now ye hae killd me.\u2019\n88D.29 \u2018Oh live, oh live, true-love,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Oh live but ae half hour,\nAnd there\u2019s not a docter in a\u2019 London\nBut sall be in your bower.\u2019\n88D.30 \u2018How can I live, Love Willie,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018For the space of half an hour?\nDinnae ye see my clear heart\u2019s blood\nA rinnin down the floor?\n88D.31 \u2018Tak aff, tak aff my holland sark,\nAnd rive\u2019t frae gare to gair,\nAnd stap it in my bleeding wounds;\nThey\u2019ll may be bleed nae mair.\u2019\n88D.32 Syne he took aff her holland sark,\nAnd rave\u2019t frae gare to gair,\nAnd stappit it in her bleeding wounds,\nBut aye they bled the mair.\n88D.33 \u2018Gae dress yoursell in black,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018And gae whistling out the way,\nAnd mourn nae mair for your true-love\nWhen she\u2019s laid in the clay.\u2019\n88D.34 He leaned his halbert on the ground,\nThe point o\u2019t to his breast,\nSaying, Here three sauls [\u2019s] gaun to heaven;\nI hope they\u2019ll a\u2019 get rest.\n88E: Young Johnstone\n88E.1 LORD JOHN stands in his stable door,\nSays he, I will gae ride,\nHis lady, in her bigly bower?\nDesired him to bide.\n88E.2 \u2018How can I bide? how can I bide?\nHow shall I bide wi thee?\nWhen I hae killd your ae brother;\nYou hae nae mair but he.\u2019\n88E.3 \u2018If ye hae killd my ae brother,\nAlas, and wae is me!\nIf ye be well yoursell, my love,\nThe less matter will be.\n88E.4 \u2018Ye\u2019ll do you to yon bigly bower,\nAnd take a silent sleep,\nAnd I\u2019ll watch in my highest tower,\nYour fair body to keep.\u2019\n88E.5 She has shut her bigly bower,\nAll wi a silver pin,\nAnd done her to the highest tower,\nTo watch that nane come in.\n88E.6 But as she looked round about,\nTo see what she could see,\nThere she saw nine armed knights\nCome riding oer the lea.\n88E.7 \u2018God make you safe and free, lady,\nGod make you safe and free!\nDid you see a bludy knight\nCome riding oer the lea?\u2019\n88E.8 \u2018O what like was his hawk, his hawk?\nAnd what like was his hound?\nIf his steed has ridden well,\nHe\u2019s passd fair Scotland\u2019s strand.\n88E.9 \u2018Come in, come in, gude gentlemen,\nAnd take white bread and wine;\nAnd aye the better ye\u2019ll pursue,\nThe lighter that ye dine.\u2019\n88E.10 \u2018We thank you for your bread, lady,\nWe thank you for the wine,\nAnd I woud gie my lands sae broad\nYour fair body were mine.\u2019\n88E.11 She has gane to her bigly bower,\nHer ain gude lord to meet;\nA trusty brand he quickly drew,\nGae her a wound sae deep.\n88E.12 \u2018What harm, my lord, provokes thine ire\nTo wreak itself on me,\nWhen thus I strove to save thy life,\nYet served for sic a fee?\u2019\n88E.13 \u2018Ohon, alas, my lady gay,\nTo come sae hastilie!\nI thought it was my deadly foe,\nYe had trysted into me.\n88E.14 \u2018O live, O live, my gay lady,\nThe space o ae half hour,\nAnd nae a leech in a\u2019 the land\nBut I\u2019se bring to your bower.\u2019\n88E.15 \u2018How can I live? how shall I live?\nHow can I live for thee?\nYe see my blude rin on the ground,\nMy heart\u2019s blude by your knee.\n88E.16 \u2018O take to flight, and flee, my love,\nO take to flight, and flee!\nI woudna wish your fair body\nFor to get harm for me.\u2019\n88E.17 \u2018Ae foot I winna flee, lady,\nAe foot I winna flee;\nI\u2019ve dune the crime worthy o death,\nIt\u2019s right that I shoud die.\n88E.18 \u2018O deal ye well at my love\u2019s lyke\nThe beer but an the wine;\nFor ere the morn, at this same time,\nYe\u2019ll deal the same at mine.\u2019\n88F: Young Johnstone\n88F.1 AS WILLIE and the young Colnel\nWere drinking at the wine,\n\u2018O will ye marry my sister?\u2019 says Will,\n\u2018And I will marry thine.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 88. Young Johnstone","type":"page"}