{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch247.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch247.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch247.htm","text":"247A.1 \u2018HOW brent\u2019s your brow, my Lady Elspat!\nHow golden yallow is your hair!\nOf all the maids of fair Scotland,\nThere\u2019s nane like Lady Elspat fair.\u2019\n247A.2 \u2018Perform your vows, Sweet William,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018The vows which ye ha made to me,\nAn at the back o my mother\u2019s castle\nThis night I\u2019ll surely meet wi thee.\u2019\n247A.3 But wae be to her brother\u2019s page,\nWho heard the words this twa did say!\nHe\u2019s told them to her lady mother,\nWho wrought Sweet William mieckle wae.\n247A.4 For she has taen him Sweet William,\nAn she\u2019s gard bind him wi his bow-string\nTill the red bluide o his fair body\nFrae ilka nail o his hand did spring.\n247A.5 O it fell once upon a time\nThat the Lord Justice came to town;\nOut has she taen him Sweet William,\nBrought him before Lord Justice boun.\n247A.6 \u2018An what is the crime, now, madame,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018Has been committed by this young man?\u2019\n\u2018O he has broken my bonny castel,\nThat was well biggit with lime and stane.\n247A.7 \u2018An he has broken my bonny coffers,\nThat was well banded wi aiken ban,\nAn he has stoln my rich jewels;\nI wot he has them every one.\u2019\n247A.8 Then out it spake her Lady Elspat,\nAs she sat by Lord Justice knee;\n\u2018Now ye hae taul your tale, mother,\nI pray, Lord Justice, you\u2019l now hear me.\n247A.9 \u2018He has na broken her bonny castel,\nThat was well biggit wi lime and stane,\nNor has he stoln her rich jewels,\nFor I wot she has them every one.\n247A.10 \u2018But tho he was my first true love,\nAn tho I had sworn to be his bride,\nCause he had not a great estate,\nShe would this way our loves divide.\u2019\n247A.11 An out it spake the Lord Justice,\nI wot the tear was in his ee;\n\u2018I see nae fault in this young man,\nSae loose his bans, an set him free.\n247A.12 \u2018Take back your love, Lady Elspat,\nAn my best blessing you baith upon!\nFor gin he be your first true love,\nHe is my eldest sister\u2019s son.\n247A.13 \u2018There is a steed in my stable\nCost me baith gold and white money;\nYe\u2019s get as mieckle o my free lan\nAs he\u2019ll ride about in a summer\u2019s day.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 247. Lady Elspat","type":"page"}