{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch113.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch113.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch113.htm","text":"113.1 AN eartly nourris sits and sing,\nAnd aye she sings, Ba, lily wean!\nLittle ken I my bairnis father,\nFar less the land that he staps in.\n113.2 Then ane arose at her bed-fit,\nAn a grumly guest I\u2019m sure was he:\n\u2018Here am I, thy bairnis father,\nAlthough that I be not comelie.\n113.3 \u2018I am a man, upo the lan,\nAn I am a silkie in the sea;\nAnd when I\u2019m far and far frae lan,\nMy dwelling is in Sule Skerrie.\u2019\n113.4 \u2018It was na weel,\u2019 quo the maiden fair,\n\u2018It was na weel, indeed,\u2019 quo she,\n\u2018That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie\nSuld hae come and aught a bairn to me.\u2019\n113.5 Now he has taen a purse of goud,\nAnd he has pat it upo her knee,\nSayin, Gie to me my little young son,\nAn tak thee up thy nourris-fee.\n113.6 An it sall come to pass on a simmer\u2019s day,\nWhen the sin shines het on evera stane,\nThat I will tak my little young son,\nAn teach him for to swim the faem.\n113.7 An thu sall marry a proud gunner,\nAn a proud gunner I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll be,\nAn the very first schot that ere he schoots,\nHe\u2019ll schoot baith my young son and me.","title":"The Child Ballads: 113. The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry","type":"page"}