{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch101.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch101.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch101.htm","text":"101A.1 O WILLY was as brave a lord\nAs ever saild the sea,\nAnd he has gane to the English court,\nTo serve for meat and fee.\n101A.2 He had nae been at the kingis court\nA twelvemonth and a day,\nTill he longd for a sight o the king\u2019s daughter,\nBut ane he coud never see.\n101A.3 O it fell ance upon a day\nTo the green wood she has gane,\nAn Willy he has followd her,\nWith the clear light o the moon.\n101A.4 He looted him low, by her did go,\nWi his hat intill his hand:\n\u2018O what\u2019s your will wi me, Sir Knight?\nI pray keep your hat on.\u2019\n101A.5 \u2018O I am not a knight, Madam,\nNor never thinks to be;\nFor I am Willy o Douglassdale,\nAn I serve for meat and fee.\u2019\n101A.6 \u2018O I\u2019ll gang to my bowr,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018An sigh baith even an morn\nThat ever I saw your face, Willy,\nOr that ever ye was born.\n101A.7 \u2018O I\u2019ll gang to my bowr,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018An I\u2019ll pray baith night an day,\nTo keep me frae your tempting looks,\nAn frae your great beauty.\u2019\n101A.8 O in a little after that\nHe keepit Dame Oliphant\u2019s bowr,\nAs the love that passd between this twa,\nIt was like paramour.\n101A.9 \u2018O narrow, narrow\u2019s my gown, Willy,\nThat wont to be sae wide;\nAn short, short is my coats, Willy,\nThat wont to be sae side;\nAn gane is a\u2019 my fair colour,\nAn low laid is my pride.\n101A.10 \u2018But an my father get word of this,\nHe\u2019ll never drink again;\nAn gin my mother get word of this,\nIn her ain bowr she\u2019ll go brain;\nAn gin my bold brothers get word this,\nI fear, Willy, you\u2019ll be slain.\u2019\n101A.11 \u2018O will you leave your father\u2019s court,\nAn go along wi me?\nI\u2019ll carry you unto fair Scotland,\nAnd mak you a lady free.\u2019\n101A.12 She pat her han in her pocket\nAn gae him five hunder poun:\n\u2018An take you that now, Squire Willy,\nTill awa that we do won.\u2019\n101A.13 Whan day was gane, and night was come,\nShe lap the castle-wa;\nBut Willy kepit his gay lady,\nHe was laith to let her fa.\n101A.14 Whan night was gane, an day come in,\nAn lions gaed to their dens,\nAn ay the lady followd him,\nAn the tears came hailing down.\n101A.15 \u2018O want ye ribbons to your hair?\nOr roses to your shoone?\nOr want ye as meickle dear bought love\nAs your ain heart can contain?\u2019\n101A.16 \u2018I want nae ribbons to my hair,\nNor roses till my shoone;\nAn Ohone, alas, for dear bought love!\nI have mair nor I can contain.\u2019\n101A.17 O he\u2019s pu\u2019d the oak in good green wood,\nAn he\u2019s made to her a fire;\nHe coverd it oer wi withred leaves,\nAn gard it burn thro ire.\n101A.18 He made a bed i the good green wood,\nAn he\u2019s laid his lady down,\nAn he\u2019s coverd her oer wi fig-tree leaves,\nBut an his ain night-gown.\n101A.19 \u2018O had I a bunch o yon red roddins,\nThat grows in yonder wood,\nBut an a drink o water clear,\nI think it woud do me good.\u2019\n101A.20 He\u2019s pu\u2019d her a bunch o yon red roddins,\nThat grew beside yon thorn,\nBut an a drink o water clear,\nIntill his hunting-horn.\n101A.21 He\u2019s bent his bow, and shot the deer,\nAn thro the green wood gane,\nAn ere that he came back again\nHis lady took travailing.\n101A.22 \u2018O up ye tak that horn,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018An ye blaw a blast for me;\nGin my father be in good green wood,\nSae seen\u2019s he\u2019ll come me ti.\u2019\n101A.23 \u2018O gin there be a man on earth\nThat ye loo better nor me,\nYe blaw the horn yoursel,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018For it\u2019s never be blawn by me.\u2019\n101A.24 O he\u2019s bent his bow, an shot the deer,\nAn thro the green wood has he gane,\nAn lang or he came back again\nHis lady bare him a son.\n101A.25 O up has he tane his bonny young son,\nAn washn him wi the milk,\nAn up has he tane his gay lady,\nAn rowd her i the silk.\n101A.26 He\u2019s bent his bow, and shot the deer,\nAn thro the green wood has he gane,\nTill he met wi a well-fard may,\nHer father\u2019s flock feeding.\n101A.27 \u2018Ye leave your father\u2019s flock feeding,\nAn go along wi me;\nI\u2019ll carry you to a lady fair,\nWill gi you both meat and fee.\u2019\n101A.28 O whan she came the lady before,\nShe\u2019s fa\u2019n down on her knee:\n\u2018O what\u2019s your will wi me, my dame?\nAn a dame you seem to be.\u2019\n101A.29 \u2018O I\u2019m Dame Oliphant, the king\u2019s daughter,\nNae doubt but ye\u2019ve heard o me;\nWill you leave your father\u2019s flock feeding,\nAn go to Scotlan wi me?\n101A.30 \u2018An ye sal get a nouriship\nIntill an earldome,\nAn I will gar provide for the\nTo marry some brave Scotsman.\u2019\n101A.31 The may she keepit the bonny boy,\nAn Willy led his lady,\nUntill they took their fair shippin,\nThen quickly hame came they.\n101A.32 The win was fair, an the sea was clear,\nAn they a\u2019 wan safe to lan;\nHe\u2019s haild her lady of Douglassdale,\nHimsel the lord within.\n101B: Willie o Couglas Dale\n101B.1 WILLIE was an earl\u2019s ae son,\nAnd an earl\u2019s ae son was he,\nBut he thought his father lack to sair,\nAnd his mother of low degree.\n101B.2 But he is on to fair England,\nTo sair for meat an fee,\nAnd all was for Dame Oliphant,\nA woman of great beauty.\n101B.3 He hadna been in fair England\nA month but barely ane,\nEre he dreamd that fair Dame Oliphant\nGied him a gay gold ring.\n101B.4 He hadna been in fair England\nA month but barely four,\nEre he dreamd that fair Dame Oliphant\nGied him a red rose flower,\nWell set about with white lilies,\nLike to the paramour.\n101B.5 It fell ance upon a day\nDame Oliphant thought lang,\nAnd she gaed on to good green wood,\nAs fast as she could gang.\n101B.6 As Willie stood in his chamber-door,\nAnd as he thought it good,\nThere he beheld Dame Oliphant,\nAs she came thro the wood.\n101B.7 He\u2019s taen his bow his arm oer,\nHis sword into his hand,\nAnd he is on to good green wood,\nAs fast as he could gang.\n101B.8 And there he found Dame Oliphant,\nWas lying sound asleep,\nAnd aye the sounder she did sleep\nThe nearer he did creep.\n101B.9 But when she wakend from her sleep\nAn angry maid was she,\nCrying, Had far away frae me, young man,\nHad far away frae me!\nFor I fear ye are the Scottish knight\nThat beguiles young ladies free.\n101B.10 \u2018I am not the Scottish knight,\nNor ever thinks to be;\nI am but Willie o Douglass Dale,\nThat serves for meat an fee.\u2019\n101B.11 \u2018If ye be Willie o Douglass Dale,\nYe\u2019re dearly welcome to me;\nFor oft in my sleep have I thought on\nYou and your merry winking ee.\u2019\n101B.12 But the cocks they crew, and the horns blew,\nAnd the lions took the hill,\nAnd Willie he gaed hame again,\nTo his hard task and till;\nAnd likewise did Dame Oliphant,\nTo her book and her seam.\n101B.13 Till it fell ance upon a day\nDame Oliphant thought lang,\nAnd she went on to Willie\u2019s bower-yates,\nAs fast as she could gang.\n101B.14 \u2018O are ye asleep now, Squire Willie?\nO are you asleep?\u2019 said she;\nO waken, waken, Squire Willie,\nO waken, and speak to me.\n101B.15 \u2018For the gowns that were oer wide, Willie,\nThey winna meet on me,\nAnd the coats that were oer side, Willie,\nThey winna come to my knee;\nAnd if the knights of my father\u2019s court get word,\nI\u2019m sure they\u2019ll gar you die.\u2019\n* * * * *\n101B.16 But she\u2019s taen a web of the scarlet,\nAnd she tare it fine an sma,\nAnd even into Willie\u2019s arms\nShe leapt the castle-wa;\nAnd Willie was wight and well able,\nAnd he keept her frae a fa.\n101B.17 But the cocks they crew, and the horns blew,\nAnd the lions took the hill,\nAnd Willie\u2019s ladie followed him,\nAnd the tears did twinkle still.\n101B.18 \u2018O want ye ribbons to your hair?\nOr roses to your sheen?\nOr want ye chains about your neck?\nYe\u2019se get mair ere that be deen.\u2019\n101B.19 \u2018I want not ribbons to my hair,\nNor roses to my sheen,\nAnd there\u2019s mair chains about my neck\nNor ever I\u2019ll see deen;\nBut I have as much dear bought love\nAs my heart can contain.\u2019\n101B.20 \u2018Will ye go to the cards or dice?\nOr to the table ee?\nOr to a bed, so well down spread,\nAnd sleep till it be day?\u2019\n101B.21 I\u2019ve mair need of the roddins, Willie,\nThat grow on yonder thorn;\nLikewise a drink o Marywell water,\nOut of your grass-green horn.\n101B.22 \u2018I\u2019ve mair need of a fire, Willie,\nTo had me frae the cauld;\nLikewise a glass of your red wine,\nEre I bring my son to the fauld.\u2019\n101B.23 He\u2019s got a bush o roddins till her,\nThat grows on yonder thorn;\nLikewise a drink o Marywell water,\nOut of his grass-green horn.\n101B.24 He carried the match in his pocket\nThat kindled to her the fire,\nWell set about wi oaken spells,\nThat leamd oer Lincolnshire.\n101B.25 And he has bought to his lady\nThe white bread and the wine;\nAnd the milk he milked from the goats,\nHe fed his young son on.\n101B.26 Till it fell ance upon a day\nDame Oliphant thought lang:\n\u2018O gin ye hae a being, Willie,\nI pray ye hae me hame.\u2019\n101B.27 He\u2019s taen his young son in his arms,\nHis lady by the hand,\nAnd they\u2019re down thro good green wood,\nAs fast as they could gang.\n101B.28 Till they came to a shepherd-may,\nWas feeding her flocks alone;\nSaid, Will ye gae alang wi me,\nAnd carry my bonny young son?\n101B.29 The gowns that were shapen for my back,\nThey shall be sewd for thine;\nAnd likewise I\u2019ll gar Squire Willie\nGie you a braw Scotsman.\n101B.30 When they came on to Willie\u2019s bower-yates,\nAnd far beyont the sea,\nShe was haild the lady o Douglass Dale,\nAnd Willie an earl to be:\nLikewise the maid they brought awa,\nShe got a braw Scotsman.\n101C: Willie o Couglas Dale\n101C.1 SWEET Sir William of Douglas Dale,\nA knight\u2019s ae son was he;\nHe dreamed of dear Dame Oliphant,\nLang ere he did her see.\n101C.2 He dreamed a woman of great beauty\nGave him a red rose flower,\nWell busket about wi the lillies white,\nJust like the paramour.\n101C.3 O sweet Sir William of Douglas Dale,\nA knight\u2019s ae son was he,\nAnd he is on to the king\u2019s high court,\nTo serve for meat and fee.\n* * * * *\n101C.4 Five hundred pounds of Spanish gold,\nTied in a towal so white,\nAnd that she has given her Lord William,\nOut oer the castle-dyke.\n101C.5 Five hundred pounds of Spanish gold,\nTied in a towel sae sma,\nAnd that she has given her own true-love,\nOut ore the castle-wa.\n101C.6 She rowed hersell in a robe o silk,\nTo loup the castle-wa;\nHe ceppet her in his armes twa,\nAnd he let not her get a fa.\n* * * * *\n101C.7 The cocks do craw, and the day does daw,\nAnd the wild fowl bodes on hill;\nThe lassie she followed her Sweet William,\nAnd let the tears down fall.\n* * * * *\n101C.8 \u2018O want you ribbons to your hair?\nOr roses to your sheen?\nOr want ye as much of feel daft love\nAs your heart can contain?\u2019\n101C.9 \u2018I want nor ribbons to my hair,\nNor roses to my sheen;\nI\u2019ve got as much o dear bought love\nAs my heart can contain.\u2019\n* * * * *\n101C.10 He carried a flint in his pocket,\nAnd he strack to her a fire,\nAnd he buskit it roun wi the leaves o oak,\nAnd gart it burn wi ire.\n101C.11 He\u2019s taen his big coat him about,\nAnd his gun into his hand,\nAnd he has gone to good green wood,\nTo kill some venison.\n101C.12 He\u2019s taen his big coat him about,\nAnd his gun into his han,\nBut lang ere he came back again\nShe bare his dear young son.\n101C.13 He rowed her in his muckle coat,\nBut in his good night-gown,\nAnd he fed her wi the good goat-milk,\nTill she was well able to gang.\n101C.14 He\u2019s taen his young son in his arm,\nHis lady in his hand,\nAnd they are down thro good green wood,\nAs fast as they can gang.\n101C.15 And they came to a shepherd\u2019s daughter,\nWas feeding at her sheep;\nSays, Will ye go to Douglass Dale,\nWi my yong son to keep?\n101C.16 O I will gee you gold, maiden,\nAnd I will gee you fee,\nGin ye will go to Douglas Dale,\nWi my yong son and me.\n101C.17 She\u2019s taen his young son in her arm,\nAnd kissed baith cheek and chin;\nSays, I will go to Douglas Dale,\nAs fast as I can win.\n101C.18 He\u2019s taen his big coat him about,\nAnd his lady in his hand,\nAnd they are off to Douglas Dale,\nAs fast as they can gang.\n101C.19 And when they came to Douglas Dale\nA happy man was he,\nFor his lady, and his young son,\nAnd his nurse, a\u2019 three.\n101[D]: Willie o Couglas Dale\n101[D].1 Willie was a rich man\u2019s son,\nA rich man\u2019s son was he;\nHee thought his father lake to sair,\nAn his mother of mine digree,\nAn he is on to our English court,\nTo serve for meatt an fee.\n101[D.2] He hadno ben in our king\u2019s court\nA tuall-month an a day,\nTill he fell in love we Mary, Dem [Ele]fon,\nAn a great buity was she.\n101[D.3] He hadno ben in our king\u2019s court\nA tuall-month an a houre,\nTill he dreamed a lady of buty bright\nGave him a rosey flour.\n101[D.4] The lady touk her mantell her about,\nHer gooun-teall in her hand,\nAn she is on to gued grean woud,\nAs fast as she could gang.\n101[D.5] . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\nAn ther she spayed a gellant knight,\nKamen his yallou hear.\n101[D.6] \u2018What is yer name, sir knight?\nFor a knight I am sure ye be;\u2019\n\u2018I am called Willie of Duglas Dall,\nDid ye never hear of me?\u2019\n\u2018If ye be Willie of Duglass Daill,\nI afft have heard of thee.\u2019\n101[D.7] \u2018What is yer name, ye lovely dame?\nFor a lady I trou ye be;\u2019\n\u2018I am called Mary, Dem Elefond,\nDid ye never hear of me?\u2019\n101[D.8] \u2018In ye be Mary, Dem Elefon,\nAs I trust well ye be,\n. . . . . . .\nMy heart ye haa ye we.\u2019\n101[D.9] The lady was fair an rear,\nThe knight\u2019s heart had she;\nThe knight was tall an straght withall,\nThe lady\u2019s hart had he.\n101[D.10] It fell ance upon a day\nDem Elofen thought lang,\nAn she is on to Willie\u2019s bour,\nAs fast as she could gang.\n101[D.11] \u2018Narrou is my pettecot, Willie,\nIt ance was saa wide,\nAn narrou is my stays, Willie,\nAtt ance wer saa wide,\nAn paill is my chikes, Willie,\nAn laigh, laigh is my pride.\n101[D.12] \u2019. . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\nAn the knights of my father\u2019s court gat word of this,\nI feer they wad gare ye diee.\u2019\n101[D.13] He touke . . . . . . . . .\nThe lady by the hand,\nAn they are one to gued green woud,\nAs fast as they coud gang.\n101[D.14] It fell ance upon a day\nStrong travileng came her tell,\n. . . . . . .\n. . . . . . .\n101[D.15] \u2018Ye take your boue on yer shoulder,\nYer arrous in yer hand,\nAn ye gaa farr throu green woud,\nAn shout some veneson.\n101[D.16] \u2018Fan ye hear me loud cray,\nBide far awaa fra me,\nBat fan ye hear me laying still\nYe may come back an see.\u2019\n101[D.17] Fan he hard her loud cray,\nHe bad far awaa,\nBat fan he heard her laying still\nHe did come an see,\nAn he got her\nAn her young son her wee.\n101[D.18] He milked the goats,\nAn feed his young son wee,\nAnd he made a fire of the oken speals,\nAn warmed his lady wee.\n101[D.19] It fell ance upon a day\nThe lady though[t] lang:\n\u2018An ye haa any place in fair Scotland, Willie,\nI wiss ye wad haa me hame.\u2019\n101[D.20] \u2019. . . . . . .\nI ha lands an reants saa friee,\nThe bonny lands of Duglass Daill,\nThey a\u2019 lay bread an friee.\u2019\n101[D.21] He\u2019s taen the knight-bairn in his arms,\nHis lady by the hand,\nAn he is out throu gued green woud,\nAs fast as they coud gang.\n101[D.22] . . . . . . . .\n. . . . . . . .\nTill they came to a maid kepping her goats,\n. . . . . . . .\n101[D.23] \u2018Hall , ye maid,\nFor a maid ye seem to be;\nWill ye live your goats kepping\nAn goo we me?\n101[D.24] \u2018I cannot live my father, I canno live my midder,\nNor yet my brethren three;\nI cannot live my goats kepping,\nAn goo along we the.\n101[D.25] \u2018Fatt is your name, ye lovely dame?\nFor a lady I am shour ye be;\u2019\n\u2018I am called Mary, Dem Elifond,\nDid ye nver hear of me?\u2019\n101[D.26] \u2018If ye be Mary, Dem Elifond,\nAs I trust weel ye be,\nI will live my goats kepping\nAn goo along we the.\n101[D.27] \u2018For I will live my father, an I ill live my mother,\nAn my brothers three,\nAn I will live my goats,\nAn go along we thee.\u2019\n101[D.28] The maid touke the knight-bairn in her ar[m]s,\nAn his lady took he,\nAn they are to gued ship-bourd,\nAnd took God to be ther foresteed, an didne fear to droun.\n101[D.29] An they landed att Duglas Dalle,\nFar the lands was briad an frie,\nAn the knight-bairn was Black Sir James of Duglas Dall,\nAn a gallant knight was hee.","title":"The Child Ballads: 101. Willie o Couglas Dale","type":"page"}