Northern European Mythology
The Child Ballads: 28. Burd Ellen and Young Tamlane
28.1 BURD ELLEN sits in her bower windowe,
Refrain: With a double laddy double, and for the double dow
Twisting the red silk and the blue.
Refrain: With the double rose and the May-hay
28.2 And whiles she twisted, and whiles she twan,
And whiles the tears fell down amang.
28.3 Till once there by cam Young Tamlane:
‘Come light, oh light, and rock your young son.’
28.4 ‘If you winna rock him, you may let him rair,
For I hae rockit my share and mair.’
* * * * *
28.5 Young Tamlane to the seas he’s gane,
And a’ women’s curse in his company’s gane.