{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch261.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch261.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch261.htm","text":"261A.1 \u2019TWAS early on a May morning\nLady Isabel combd her hair;\nBut little kent she, or the morn\nShe woud never comb it mair.\n261A.2 \u2019Twas early on a May morning\nLady Isabel rang the keys;\nBut little kint she, or the morn\nA fey woman she was.\n261A.3 Ben it came her step-mother,\nAs white \u2019s the lily flower:\n\u2018It\u2019s tauld me this day, Isabel,\nYou are your father\u2019s whore.\u2019\n261A.4 \u2018O them that tauld you that, mother,\nI wish they neer drink wine;\nFor if I be the same woman\nMy ain sell drees the pine.\n261A.5 \u2018And them that\u2019s tauld you that, mother,\nI wish they neer drink ale;\nFor if I be the same woman\nMy ain sell drees the dail.\u2019\n261A.6 \u2018It may be very well seen, Isabel,\nIt may be very well seen;\nHe buys to you the damask gowns,\nTo me the dowie green.\u2019\n261A.7 \u2018Ye are of age and I am young,\nAnd young amo my flowers;\nThe fairer that my claithing be,\nThe mair honour is yours.\n261A.8 \u2018I hae a love beyond the sea,\nAnd far ayont the faem;\nFor ilka gown my father buys me,\nMy ain luve sends me ten.\u2019\n261A.9 \u2018Come ben, come ben now, Lady Isabel,\nAnd drink the wine wi me;\nI hae twa jewels in ae coffer,\nAnd nae o them I\u2019ll gie [ye].\u2019\n261A.10 \u2018Stay still, stay still, my mother dear,\nStay still a little while,\nTill I gang into Marykirk;\nIt\u2019s but a little mile.\u2019\n261A.11 When she gaed on to Marykirk,\nAnd into Mary\u2019s quire,\nThere she saw her ain mother\nSit in a gowden chair.\n261A.12 \u2018O will I leave the lands, mother?\nOr shall I sail the sea?\nOr shall I drink this dowie drink\nThat is prepar\u2019d for me?\u2019\n261A.13 \u2018Ye winna leave the lands, daughter,\nNor will ye sail the sea,\nBut ye will drink this dowie drink\nThis woman\u2019s prepar\u2019d for thee.\n261A.14 \u2018Your bed is made in a better place\nThan ever hers will be,\nAnd ere ye\u2019re cauld into the room\nYe will be there wi me.\u2019\n261A.15 \u2018Come in, come in now, Lady Isabel,\nAnd drink the wine wi me;\nI hae twa jewels in ae coffer,\nAnd ane o them I\u2019ll gie [ye].\u2019\n261A.16 \u2018Stay still, stay still, my mother dear,\nStay still a little wee,\nTill I gang to yon garden green,\nMy Maries a\u2019 to see.\u2019\n261A.17 To some she gae the broach, the broach,\nTo some she gae a ring;\nBut wae befa her step-mother!\nTo her she gae nae thing.\n261A.18 \u2018Come in, come in now, Lady Isabel,\nAnd drink the wine wi me;\nI hae twa jewels in ae coffer,\nAnd ane o them I\u2019ll gie [ye].\u2019\n261A.19 Slowly to the bower she came,\nAnd slowly enterd in,\nAnd being full o courtesie,\nSays, Begin, mother, begin.\n261A.20 She put it till her cheek, her cheek,\nSae did she till her chin,\nSae did she till her fu fause lips,\nBut never a drap gaed in.\n261A.21 Lady Isabel put it till her cheek,\nSae did she till her chin,\nSae did she till her rosy lips,\nAnd the rank poison gaed in.\n261A.22 \u2018O take this cup frae me, mother,\nO take this cup frae me;\nMy bed is made in a better place\nThan ever yours will be.\n261A.23 \u2018My bed is in the heavens high,\nAmang the angels fine;\nBut yours is in the lowest hell,\nTo drie torment and pine.\u2019\n261A.24 Nae moan was made for Lady Isabel\nIn bower where she lay dead,\nBut a\u2019 was for that ill woman,\nIn the fields mad she gaed.","title":"The Child Ballads: 261. Lady Isabel","type":"page"}