{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch291.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch291.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch291.htm","text":"291A.1 LADY ERSKINE sits in her chamber,\nSewing at her silken seam,\nA chain of gold for Childe Owlet,\nAs he goes out and in.\n291A.2 But it fell ance upon a day\nShe unto him did say,\nYe must cuckold Lord Ronald,\nFor a\u2019 his lands and ley.\n291A.3 \u2018O cease! forbid, madam,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018That this shoud eer be done!\nHow would I cuckold Lord Ronald,\nAnd me his sister\u2019s son?\u2019\n291A.4 Then she\u2019s ta\u2019en out a little penknife,\nThat lay below her bed,\nPut it below her green stay\u2019s cord,\nWhich made her body bleed.\n291A.5 Then in it came him Lord Ronald,\nHearing his lady\u2019s moan;\n\u2018What blood is this, my dear,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018That sparks on the fire-stone?\u2019\n291A.6 ung Childe Owlet, your sister\u2019s son,\nIs now gane frae my bower;\nIf I hadna been a good woman,\nI\u2019d been Childe Owlet\u2019s whore.\u2019\n291A.7 Then he has taen him Childe Owlet,\nLaid him in prison strong,\nAnd all his men a council held\nHow they woud work him wrong.\n291A.8 Some said they woud Childe Owlet hang,\nSome said they woud him burn;\nSome said they woud have Childe Owlet\nBewteen wild horses torn.\n291A.9 ere are horses in your stables stand\nCan run right speedilie,\nAnd ye will to your stable go,\nAnd wile out four for me.\u2019\n291A.10 They put a foal to ilka foot,\nAnd ane to ilka hand,\nAnd sent them down to Darling muir,\nAs fast as they coud gang.\n291A.11 There was not a kow in Darling muir,\nNor ae piece o a rind,\nBut drappit o Child Owlet\u2019s blude\nAnd pieces o his skin.\n291A.12 There was not a kow in Darling muir,\nNor ae piece o a rash,\nBut drappit o Childe Owlet\u2019s blude\nAnd pieces o his flesh.","title":"The Child Ballads: 291. Child Owlet","type":"page"}