{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch255.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch255.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch255.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 255A: Willie\u2019s Fatal Visit\n \n \n 255A.1 \u2019TWAS on an evening fair I went to take the air,\n I heard a maid making her moan;\n Said, Saw ye my father? Or saw ye my mother?\n Or saw ye my brother John?\n Or saw ye the lad that I love best,\n And his name it is Sweet William?\n 255A.2 \u2018I saw not your father, I saw not your mother,\n Nor saw I your brother John;\n But I saw the lad that ye love best,\n And his name it is Sweet William.\u2019\n 255A.3 \u2018O was my love riding? or was he running?\n Or was he walking alone?\n Or says he that he will be here this night?\n O dear, but he tarries long!\u2019\n 255A.4 \u2018Your love was not riding, nor yet was he running,\n But fast was he walking alone;\n He says that he will be here this night to thee,\n And forbids you to think long.\u2019\n 255A.5 Then Willie he has gane to his love\u2019s door,\n And gently tirled the pin:\n \u2018O sleep ye, wake ye, my bonny Meggie,\n Ye\u2019ll rise, lat your true love in.\u2019\n 255A.6 The lassie being swack ran to the door fu snack,\n And gently she lifted the pin,\n Then into her arms sae large and sae lang\n She embraced her bonny love in.\n 255A.7 \u2018O will ye gang to the cards or the dice,\n Or to a table o wine?\n Or will ye gang to a well-made bed,\n Well coverd wi blankets fine?\u2019\n 255A.8 \u2018O I winna gang to the cards nor the dice,\n Nor yet to a table o wine;\n But I\u2019ll rather gang to a well-made bed,\n Well coverd wi blankets fine.\u2019\n 255A.9 \u2018My braw little cock, sits on the house tap,\n Ye\u2019ll craw not till it be day,\n And your kame shall be o the gude red gowd,\n And your wings o the siller grey.\u2019\n 255A.10 The cock being fause untrue he was,\n And he crew an hour ower seen;\n They thought it was the gude day-light,\n But it was but the light o the meen.\n 255A.11 \u2018Ohon, alas!\u2019 says bonny Meggie then,\n \u2018This night we hae sleeped ower lang!\u2019\n \u2018O what is the matter?\u2019 then Willie replied,\n \u2018The faster then I must gang.\u2019\n 255A.12 Then Sweet Willie raise, and put on his claise,\n And drew till him stockings and sheen,\n And took by his side his berry-brown sword,\n And ower yon lang hill he\u2019s gane.\n 255A.13 As he gaed ower yon high, high hill,\n And down yon dowie den,\n Great and grievous was the ghost he saw,\n Would fear ten thousand men.\n 255A.14 As he gaed in by Mary kirk,\n And in by Mary stile,\n Wan and weary was the ghost\n Upon sweet Willie did smile.\n 255A.15 \u2018Aft hae ye travelld this road, Willie,\n Aft hae ye travelld in sin;\n Ye neer said sae muckle for your saul\n As My Maker bring me hame!\n 255A.16 \u2018Aft hae ye travelld this road, Willie,\n Your bonny love to see;\n But ye\u2019ll never travel this road again\n Till ye leave a token wi me.\u2019\n 255A.17 Then she has taen him Sweet Willie,\n Riven him frae gair to gair,\n And on ilka seat o Mary\u2019s kirk\n O Willie she hang a share;\n Even abeen his love Meggie\u2019s dice,\n Hang\u2019s head and yellow hair.\n 255A.18 His father made moan, his mother made moan,\n But Meggie made muckle mair;\n His father made moan, his mother made moan,\n But Meggie reave her yellow hair.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 256. Alison and Willie","title":"The Child Ballads: 255. Willie's Fatal Visit","type":"page"}