{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch253.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch253.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch253.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 253A: Thomas o Yonderdale\n \n \n 253A.1 LADY MAISRY lives intill a bower,\n She never wore but what she would;\n Her gowns were o the silks sae fine,\n Her coats stood up wi bolts o gold.\n 253A.2 Mony a knight there courted her,\n And gentlemen o high degree,\n But it was Thomas o Yonderdale\n That gaind the love o this ladie.\n 253A.3 Now he has hunted her till her bower,\n Baith late at night and the mid day,\n But when he stole her virgin rose\n Nae mair this maid he would come nigh.\n 253A.4 But it fell ance upon a time\n Thomas her bower he walk d by;\n There he saw her Lady Maisry,\n Nursing her young son on her knee.\n 253A.5 \u2018O seal on you, my bonny babe,\n And lang may ye my comfort be!\n Your father passes by our bower,\n And now minds neither you nor me.\u2019\n 253A.6 Now when Thomas heard her speak,\n The saut tear trinkled frae his ee;\n To Lady Maisry\u2019s bower he went,\n Says, Now I\u2019m come to comfort thee.\n 253A.7 \u2018Is this the promise ye did make\n Last when I was in your companie?\n You said before nine months were gane\n Your wedded wife that I should be.\u2019\n 253A.8 \u2018If Saturday be a bonny day,\n Then, my love, I maun sail the sea;\n But if I live for to return,\n O then, my love, I\u2019ll marry thee.\u2019\n 253A.9 \u2018I wish Saturday a stormy day,\n High and stormy be the sea,\n Ships may not sail, nor boats row,\n But gar true Thomas stay with me.\u2019\n 253A.10 Saturday was a bonny day,\n Fair and leesome blew the wind;\n Ships did sail, and boats did row,\n Which had true Thomas to unco ground.\n 253A.11 He hadna been on unco ground\n A month, a month but barely three,\n Till he has courted anither maid,\n And quite forgotten Lady Maisry.\n 253A.12 Ae night as he lay on his bed,\n In a dreary dream dreamed he\n That Maisry stood by his bedside,\n Upbraiding him for \u2019s inconstancie.\n 253A.13 He\u2019s calld upon his little boy,\n Says, Bring me candle, that I see;\n And ye maun gang this night, [my] boy,\n Wi a letter to a gay ladie.\n 253A.14 \u2018It is my duty you to serve,\n And bring you coal and candle-light,\n And I would rin your errand, master,\n If \u2019twere to Lady Maisry bright.\n 253A.15 \u2018Tho my legs were sair I coudna gang,\n Tho the night were dark I coudna see,\n Tho I should creep on hands and feet,\n I woud gae to Lady Maisry.\u2019\n 253A.16 \u2018Win up, win up, my bonny boy,\n And at my bidding for to be;\n For ye maun quickly my errand rin,\n For it is to Lady Maisry.\n 253A.17 \u2018Ye\u2019ll bid her dress in the gowns o silk,\n Likewise in the coats o cramasie;\n Ye\u2019ll bid her coma alang wi you,\n True Thomas\u2019s wedding for to see.\n 253A.18 \u2018Ye\u2019ll bid her shoe her steed before,\n And a\u2019 gowd graithing him behind;\n On ilka tip o her horse mane,\n Twa bonny bells to loudly ring.\n 253A.19 \u2018And on the tor o her saddle\n A courtly bird to sweetly sing;\n Her bridle-reins o silver fine,\n And stirrups by her side to hing.\u2019\n 253A.20 She dressd her in the finest silk,\n Her coats were o the cramasie,\n And she\u2019s awa to unco land,\n True Thomas\u2019s wedding for to see.\n 253A.21 At ilka tippet o her horse mane,\n Twa bonny bells did loudly ring,\n And on the tor o her saddle\n A courtly bird did sweetly sing.\n 253A.22 The bells they rang, the bird he sang,\n As they rode in yon pleasant plain;\n Then soon she met true Thomas\u2019s bride,\n Wi a\u2019 her maidens and young men.\n 253A.23 The bride she garned round about,\n \u2018I wonder,\u2019 said she, \u2019who this may be?\n It surely is our Scottish queen,\n Come here our wedding for to see.\u2019\n 253A.24 Out it speaks true Thomas\u2019s boy,\n \u2018She maunna lift her head sae hie;\n But it\u2019s true Thomas\u2019s first love,\n Come here your wedding for to see.\u2019\n 253A.25 Then out bespake true Thomas\u2019s bride,\n I wyte the tear did blind her ee;\n If this be Thomas\u2019s first true-love,\n I\u2019m sair afraid he\u2019ll neer hae me.\n 253A.26 Then in it came her Lady Maisry,\n And aye as she trips in the fleer,\n \u2018What is your will, Thomas?\u2019 she said,\n \u2018This day, ye know, ye calld me here.\u2019\n 253A.27 \u2018Come hither by me, ye lily flower,\n Come hither and set ye down by me,\n For ye\u2019re the ane I\u2019ve call\u2019d upon,\n And ye my wedded wife maun be.\u2019\n 253A.28 Then in it came true Thomas\u2019s bride,\n And aye as she trippd on the stane,\n \u2018What is your will, Thomas?\u2019 she said,\n \u2018This day, ye know, ye calld my hame.\u2019\n 253A.29 \u2018Ye hae come on hired horseback,\n But ye\u2019se gae hame in coach sae free;\n For here\u2019s the flower into my bower\n I mean my wedded wife shall be.\u2019\n 253A.30 \u2018O ye will break your lands, Thomas,\n And part them in divisions three;\n Gie twa o them to your ae brother,\n And cause your brother marry me.\u2019\n 253A.31 \u2018I winna break my lands,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018For ony woman that I see;\n My brother\u2019s a knight o wealth and might,\n He\u2019ll wed nane but he will for me.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 254. Lord William, or Lord Lundy","title":"The Child Ballads: 253. Thomas o Yonderdale","type":"page"}