{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch262.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch262.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch262.htm","text":"262A.1 IT fell about the Lammas time,\nWhen wightsmen won their hay,\nA\u2019 the squires in merry Linkum\nWent a\u2019 forth till a play.\n262A.2 They playd until the evening tide,\nThe sun was gaeing down;\nA lady thro plain fields was bound,\nA lily leesome thing.\n262A.3 Two squires that for this lady pledged,\nIn hopes for a renown,\nThe one was calld the proud Seaton,\nThe other Livingston.\n262A.4 \u2018When will ye, Michaell o Livingston,\nWad for this lady gay?\u2019\n\u2018To-morrow, to-morrow,\u2019 said Livingston,\n\u2018To-morrow, if you may.\u2019\n262A.5 Then they hae wadded their wagers,\nAnd laid their pledges down;\nTo the high castle o Edinbro\nThey made them ready boun.\n262A.6 The chamber that they did gang in,\nThere it was daily dight;\nThe kipples were like the gude red gowd,\nAs they stood up in hight,\nAnd the roof-tree like the siller white,\nAnd shin\u2019d like candles bright.\n262A.7 The lady fair into that ha\nWas comly to be seen;\nHer kirtle was made o the pa,\nHer gowns seemd o the green.\n262A.8 Her gowns seemd like green, like green,\nHer kirtle o the pa;\nA siller wand intill her hand,\nShe marshalld ower them a\u2019.\n262A.9 She gae every knight a lady bright,\nAnd every squire a may;\nHer own sell chose him Livingston,\nThey were a comely tway.\n262A.10 Then Seaton started till his foot,\nThe fierce flame in his ee:\n\u2018On the next day, wi sword in hand,\nOn plain fields meet ye me.\u2019\n262A.11 When bells were rung, and mass was sung,\nAnd a\u2019 man bound for bed,\nLord Livingston and his fair dame\nIn bed were sweetly laid.\n262A.12 The bed, the bed where they lay in\nWas coverd wi the pa;\nA covering o the gude red gowd\nLay nightly ower the twa.\n262A.13 So they lay there, till on the morn\nThe sun shone on their feet;\nThen up it raise him Livingston\nTo draw to him a weed.\n262A.14 The first an weed that he drew on\nWas o the linen clear;\nThe next an weed that he drew on,\nIt was a weed o weir.\n262A.15 The niest an weed that he drew on\nWas gude iron and steel;\nTwa gloves o plate, a gowden helmet,\nBecame that hind chiel weel.\n262A.16 Then out it speaks that lady gay-+--+-\nA little forbye stood she-+--+-\n\u2018I\u2019ll dress mysell in men\u2019s array,\nGae to the fields for thee.\u2019\n262A.17 \u2018O God forbid,\u2019 said Livingston,\n\u2018That eer I dree the shame;\nMy lady slain in plain fields,\nAnd I coward knight at hame!\u2019\n262A.18 He scarcely travelled frae the town\nA mile but barely twa\nTill he met wi a witch-woman,\nI pray to send her wae!\n262A.19 \u2018This is too gude a day, my lord,\nTo gang sae far frae town;\nThis is too gude a day, my lord,\nOn field to make you boun.\n262A.20 \u2018I dreamd a dream concerning thee,\nO read ill dreams to guid!\nYour bower was full o milk-white swans,\nYour bride\u2019s bed full o bluid.\u2019\n262A.21 \u2018O bluid is gude,\u2019 said Livingston,\n\u2018To bide it whoso may;\nIf I be frae yon plain fields,\nNane knew the plight I lay.\u2019\n262A.22 Then he rade on to plain fields\nAs swift\u2019s his horse coud hie,\nAnd ther he met the proud Seaton,\nCome boldly ower the lee.\n262A.23 \u2018Come on to me now, Livingston,\nOr then take foot and flee;\nThis is the day that we must try\nWho gains the victorie.\u2019\n262A.24 Then they fought with sword in hand\nTill they were bluidy men;\nBut on the point o Seaton\u2019s sword\nBrave Livingston was slain.\n262A.25 His lady lay ower castle-wa,\nBeholding dale and down,\nWhen Blenchant brave, his gallant steed,\nCame prancing to the town.\n262A.26 \u2018O where is now my ain gude lord\nHe stays sae far frae me?\u2019\n\u2018O dinna ye see your ain gude lord\nStand bleeding by your knee?\u2019\n262A.27 \u2018O live, O live, Lord Livingston,\nThe space o ae half hour,\nThere\u2019s nae a leech in Edinbro town\nBut I\u2019ll bring to your door.\u2019\n262A.28 \u2018Awa wi your leeches, lady,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Of them I\u2019ll be the waur;\nThere\u2019s nae a leech in Edinbro town\nThat can strong death debar.\n262A.29 \u2018Ye\u2019ll take the lands o Livingston\nAnd deal them liberallie,\nTo the auld that may not, the young that cannot,\nAnd blind that does na see,\nAnd help young maidens\u2019 marriages,\nThat has nae gear to gie.\u2019\n262A.30 \u2018My mother got it in a book,\nThe first night I was born,\nI woud be wedded till a knight,\nAnd him slain on the morn.\n262A.31 \u2018But I will do for my love\u2019s sake\nWhat ladies woudna thole;\nEre seven years shall hae an end,\nNae shoe\u2019s gang on my sole.\n262A.32 \u2018There\u2019s never lint gang on my head,\nNor kame gang in my hair,\nNor ever coal nor candle-light\nShine in my bower mair.\u2019\n262A.33 When seven years were near an end,\nThe lady she thought lang,\nAnd wi a crack her heart did brake,\nAnd sae this ends my sang.","title":"The Child Ballads: 262. Lord Livingston","type":"page"}