{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch296.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch296.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch296.htm","text":"296A.1 On the second of October, a Monday at noon,\nIn came Walter Lesly, to see his proper one;\nHe sent a chair down by her side, and gently sat her by,\nSays, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\n296A.2 He\u2019s taen a glass into his hand, inviting her to drink,\nBut little knew she his meaning, or what the rogue did think;\nNor what the rogue did think, to steal the maid away;\n\u2018Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\u2019\n296A.3 When they had taen a glass or two, and all were making merry,\nIn came Geordy Lesly, and forth he did her carry;\nThen upon high horseback sae hard\u2019s he did her tye,\n\u2018Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\u2019\n296A.4 Her mother she came to the door, the saut tears on her cheek,\nShe coudna see her daughter, it was for dust and reek;\nIt was for dust and reek, the swords they glancd sae high;\n\u2018And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\u2019\n296A.5 When they came to the ale-house, the people there were busy;\nA bridal-bed it was well made, and supper well made ready;\nWhen the supper down was set, baith plum-pudding and pie,\n\u2018And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\u2019\n296A.6 When they had eaten and well drunken, and a\u2019 man bound for bed,\nThe laddie and the lassie in ae chamber were laid;\nHe quickly stript her to the smock, and gently laid her bye,\nSays, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?\n296A.7 But Walter being weary, he fell fast asleep,\nAnd then the lassie thought it fit to start up till her feet;\nTo start up till her feet, and her petticoats to tye,\n\u2018We\u2019ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.\u2019\n296A.8 Then over moss and over muir sae cleverly she ran,\nAnd over hill and over dale, without stockings or shoon;\nThe men pursued her full fast, wi mony shout and cry,\nSays, Will ye go to Conland, the winter-time to lye.\n296A.9 \u2018Wae to the dubs o Duffus land, that eer they were sae deep;\nThey\u2019ve trachled a\u2019 our horsemen and gart our captain sleep;\nAnd gart our captain sleep, and the lassie win away,\nAnd she\u2019ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.\u2019\n296A.10 \u2018I\u2019d rather be in Duffus land, selling at the ale,\nBefore I was wi Lesly, for a\u2019 his auld meal;\nFor a\u2019 his auld meal, and sae mony comes to buy;\nI\u2019ll go no more to Conland the winter-time to lye.\n296A.11 \u2018I\u2019d rather be in Duffus land, draggin at the ware,\nBefore I was wi Lesly, for a\u2019 his yellow hair;\nFor a\u2019 his yellow hair, and sae well\u2019s he can it tye;\nI\u2019ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.\u2019\n296A.12 It was not for her beauty, nor yet her gentle bluid,\nBut for her mither\u2019s dollars, of them he had great need;\nOf them he had great need, now he maun do them by,\nFor she\u2019ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.","title":"The Child Ballads: 296. Walter Lesly","type":"page"}