{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch303.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch303.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch303.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 303A: The Holy Nunnery\n \n \n 303A.1 FAIR ANNIE had a costly bower,\n Well built wi lime and stane,\n And Willie came to visit her,\n Wit the light o the meen.\n 303A.2 When he came to Annie\u2019s bower-door,\n He tirled at the pin:\n \u2018Ye sleep ye, wake ye, Fair Annie,\n Ye\u2019ll open, lat me come in.\u2019\n 303A.3 \u2018O never a fit,\u2019 says Fair Annie,\n \u2018Till I your errand ken;\u2019\n \u2018My father\u2019s vowed a vow, Annie,\n I\u2019ll tell you when I\u2019m in.\n 303A.4 \u2018My father\u2019s vowed a rash vow,\n I darena marry thee;\n My mither\u2019s vowed anither vow,\n My bride ye\u2019se never be.\u2019\n 303A.5 \u2018If ye had tauld me that, Willie,\n When we began to woo,\n There was naithing in this warld wide\n Shoud drawn my love to you.\n 303A.6 \u2018A nun, a nun,\u2019 said Fair Annie,\n \u2018A nun will I be then;\u2019\n \u2018A priest, a priest,\u2019 said Sweet Willie,\n \u2018A priest will I be syne.\u2019\n 303A.7 She is gane to her father,\n For mither she had nane;\n And she is on to her father,\n To see if she\u2019d be a nun.\n 303A.8 \u2018An asking, asking, father dear,\n An asking ye\u2019ll grant me;\n That\u2019s to get to the holy nunnery,\n And there to live or die.\u2019\n 303A.9 \u2018Your asking\u2019s nae sae great, daughter,\n But granted it shall be;\n For ye\u2019se won to the holy nunnery,\n There to live or die.\u2019\n 303A.10 Then they gaed on, and farther on,\n Till they came to the yate;\n And there they spied a maiden porter,\n Wi gowd upon her hat.\n 303A.11 \u2018An asking, asking, maiden porter,\n An asking ye\u2019ll grant me;\n If I\u2019ll won to the holy nunnery,\n There to live or die.\u2019\n 303A.12 \u2018Your asking\u2019s nae sae great, lady,\n But granted it shall be;\n For ye\u2019se won to the holy nunnery,\n There to live or die.\n 303A.13 \u2018But ye maun vow a vow, lady,\n Before that ye seek in;\n Never to kiss a young man\u2019s mouth\n That goes upon the grun.\n 303A.14 \u2018And ye must vow anither vow,\n Severely ye must work;\n The well-warst vow that ye\u2019re to vow,\n Is never to gang to kirk.\u2019\n 303A.15 \u2018I will vow a vow,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Before that I seek in;\n I neer shall kiss a young man\u2019s mouth\n That goes upon the grun.\n 303A.16 \u2018And I will vow anither vow,\n Severly I will work;\n The well-warst vow that I\u2019m to vow\n Is never to gang to kirk.\u2019\n 303A.17 For seven years now Fair Annie,\n In the holy nunnery lay she,\n And seven years Sweet Willie lay,\n In languish like to die.\n 303A.18 \u2018Is there nae duke no lord\u2019s daughter,\n My son, can comfort thee,\n And save thee frae the gates o death?\n Is there nae remedie?\u2019\n 303A.19 \u2018There is nae duke nor lord\u2019s daughter,\n Mother, can cofort me,\n Except it be my love, Annie,\n In the holy nunnery lies she.\u2019\n 303A.20 They\u2019ve dressd Sweet Willie up in silk,\n Wi gowd his gown did shine,\n And nane coud ken by his pale face\n But he was a lady fine.\n 303A.21 So they gaed on, and farther on,\n Till they came to the yate,\n And there they spied a maiden porter,\n Wi gowd upon her hat.\n 303A.22 \u2018An asking, an asking, maiden porter,\n An asking ye\u2019ll grant me;\n For to win in to the holy nunnery,\n Fair Annie for to see.\u2019\n 303A.23 \u2018Your asking\u2019s nae sae great, lady,\n But granted it shall be;\n Ye\u2019se won into the holy nunnery,\n Fair Annie for to see.\n 303A.24 \u2018Be she duke\u2019s or lord\u2019s daughter,\n It\u2019s lang sin she came here:\u2019\n Fair Annie kent her true love\u2019s face;\n Says, Come up, my sister dear.\n 303A.25 Sweet Willie went to kiss her lips,\n As he had wont to do;\n But she softly whispered him,\n I darena this avow.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 304. Young Ronald","title":"The Child Ballads: 303. The Holy Nunnery","type":"page"}