{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch300.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch300.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch300.htm","text":"300A.1 THERE was a maid, richly arrayd,\nIn robes were rare to see,\nFor seven years and something mair\nShe servd a gay ladie.\n300A.2 But being fond o a higher place,\nIn service she thought lang;\nShe took her mantle her about,\nHer coffer by the band.\n300A.3 And as she walkd by the shore-side,\nAs blythe\u2019s a bird on tree,\nYet still she gaz\u2019d her round about,\nTo see what she could see.\n300A.4 At last she spied a little castle,\nThat stood near by the sea;\nShe spied it far and drew it near,\nTo that castle went she.\n300A.5 And when she came to that castle\nShe tirled at the pin,\nAnd ready stood a little wee boy\nTo lat this fair maid in.\n300A.6 \u2018O who\u2019s the owner of this place,\nO porter-boy, tell me;\u2019\n\u2018This place belongs unto a queen\nO birth and high degree.\u2019\n300A.7 She put her hand in her pocket,\nAnd gae him shillings three:\n\u2018O porter, bear my message well\nUnto the queen frae me.\u2019\n300A.8 The porter\u2019s gane before the queen,\nFell low down on his knee:\n\u2018Win up, win up, my porter-boy,\nWhat makes this courtesie?\u2019\n300A.9 \u2018I hae been porter at your yetts,\nMy dame, these years full three,\nBut see a ladie at your yetts\nThe fairest my eyes did see.\u2019\n300A.10 \u2018Cast up my yetts baith wide and braid,\nLat her come in to me,\nAnd I\u2019ll know by her courtesie\nLord\u2019s daughter if she be.\u2019\n300A.11 When she came in before the queen,\nFell low down on her knee:\n\u2018Service frae you, my dame the queen,\nI pray you grant it me.\u2019\n300A.12 \u2018If that service ye now do want,\nWhat station will ye be?\nCan ye card wool, or spin, fair maid,\nOr milk the cows to me?\u2019\n300A.13 \u2018No, I can neither card nor spin,\nNor cows I canno milk,\nBut sit into a lady\u2019s bower\nAnd sew the seams o silk.\u2019\n300A.14 \u2018What is your name, ye comely dame?\nPray tell this unto me:\u2019\n\u2018O Blancheflour, that is my name,\nBorn in a strange countrie.\u2019\n300A.15 \u2018O keep ye well frae Jellyflorice-+--+-\nMy ain dear son is he-+--+-\nWhen other ladies get a gift,\nO that ye shall get three.\u2019\n300A.16 It wasna tald into the bower\nTill it went thro the ha,\nThat Jellyflorice and Blancheflour\nWere grown ower great witha.\n300A.17 When the queen\u2019s maids their visits paid,\nUpo the gude Yule-day,\nWhen other ladies got horse to ride,\nShe boud take foot and gae.\n300A.18 The queen she calld her stable-groom,\nTo come to her right seen;\nSays, Ye\u2019ll take out yon wild waith steed\nAnd bring him to the green.\n300A.19 \u2018Ye\u2019ll take the bridle frae his head,\nThe lighters frae his een;\nEre she ride three times roun the cross,\nHer weel-days will be dune.\u2019\n300A.20 Jellyflorice his true-love spy\u2019d\nAs she rade roun the cross,\nAnd thrice he kissd her lovely lips,\nAnd took her frae her horse.\n300A.21 \u2018Gang to your bower, my lily-flower,\nFor a\u2019 my mother\u2019s spite;\nThere\u2019s nae other amang her maids,\nIn whom I take delight.\n300A.22 \u2018Ye are my jewel, and only ane,\nNane \u2019s do you injury;\nFor ere this-day-month come and gang\nMy wedded wife ye\u2019se be.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 300. Blancheflour and Jellyflorice","type":"page"}