Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 51, as taken down from the
recitation of a lady.
| 1 |
Yesterday was brave Hallowday,
And, above all days of the year,
The schoolboys all got leave to play,
And little Sir Hugh was there. |
| 2 |
He kicked the ball with his foot,
And kepped it with his knee,
And even in at the Jew's window
He gart the bonnie ba flee. |
| 3 |
Out then came the Jew's daughter:
'Will ye come in and dine?'
'I winna come in, and I canna come in,
Till I get that ball of mine. |
| 4 |
'Throw down that ball to me, maiden,
Throw down the ball to me!'
'I winna throw down your ball, Sir Hugh,
Till ye come up to me.' |
| 5 |
She pu'd the apple frae the tree,
It was baith red and green;
She gave it unto little Sir Hugh,
With that his heart did win. |
| 6 |
She wiled him into ae chamber,
She wiled him into twa,
She wiled him into the third chamber,
And that was warst o't a'. |
| 7 |
She took out a little penknife,
Hung low down by her spare,
She twined this young thing o his life,
And a word he neer spak mair. |
| 8 |
And first came out the thick, thick blood,
And syne came out the thin,
And syne came out the bonnie heart's blood,
There was nae mair within. |
| 9 |
She laid him on a dressing-table,
She dressd him like a swine;
Says, Lie ye there, my bonnie Sir Hugh,
Wi yere apples red and green! |
| 10 |
She put him in a case of lead,
Says, Lie ye there and sleep!
She threw him into the deep draw-well,
Was fifty fathom deep. |
| 11 |
A schoolboy walking in the garden
Did grievously hear him moan;
He ran away to the deep draw-well,
And fell down on his knee. |
| 12 |
Says, Bonnie Sir Hugh, and pretty Sir Hugh,
I pray you speak to me!
If you speak to any body in this world,
I pray you speak to me. |
| 13 |
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,
And every body went hame,
Then every lady had her son,
But Lady Helen had nane. |
| 14 |
She rolled her mantle her about,
And sore, sore did she weep;
She ran away to the Jew's castle,
When all were fast asleep. |
| 15 |
She cries, Bonnie Sir Hugh, O pretty Sir Hugh,
I pray you speak to me!
If you speak to any body in this world,
I pray you speak to me. |
| 16 |
'Lady Helen, if ye want your son,
I'll tell ye where to seek;
Lady Helen, if ye want your son,
He's in the well sae deep.' |
| 17 |
She ran away to the deep draw-well,
And she fell down on her knee,
Saying, Bonnie Sir Hugh, O pretty Sir Hugh,
I pray ye speak to me!
If ye speak to any body in the world,
I pray ye speak to me. |
| 18 |
'Oh the lead it is wondrous heavy, mother,
The well it is wondrous deep;
The little penknife sticks in my throat,
And I downa to ye speak. |
| 19 |
'But lift me out o this deep draw-well,
And bury me in yon churchyard;
. . . .
. . . . |
| 20 |
'Put a Bible at my head,' he says,
'And a Testament at my feet,
And pen and ink at every side,
And I'll lie still and sleep. |
| 21 |
'And go to the back of Maitland town,
Bring me my winding sheet;
For it's at the back of Maitland town
That you and I shall meet.' |
| 22 |
O the broom, the bonny, bonny broom,
The broom that makes full sore,
A woman's mercy is very little,
But a man's mercy is more. |
