"Written down from memory by Robert Hutton, Shepherd, Peel, Liddesdale."
Mr. R. White's papers.
| 1 |
A bailiff's fair daughter, she lived by the Aln,
A young maid's love is easily won
She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 2 |
'If ye could love me, as I do love thee,
A young maid's love is hard to win
I'll make you a lady of high degree,
When once we go down to fair Scotland.' |
| 3 |
To think of the prisoner her heart was sore,
A young maid's love is easily won
Her love it was much, but her pity was more,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 4 |
She stole from her father's pillow the key,
A young maid's love is easily won
And out of the dungeon she soon set him free,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 5 |
She led him into her father's stable,
A young maid's love is easily won
And they've taken a steed both gallant and able,
To carry them down to fair Scotland. |
| 6 |
When they first took the way, it was darling and dear;
A young maid's love is easily won
As forward they fared, all changed was his cheer,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 7 |
They rode till they came to a fair Scottish corse;
A young maid's love is easily won
Says he, 'Now, pray madam, dismount from my horse,
And go get you back to Northumberland. |
| 8 |
'It befits not to ride with a leman light,
A young maid's love is easily won
When awaits my returning my own lady bright,
My own wedded wife in fair Scotland.' |
| 9 |
The words that he said on her fond heart smote,
A young maid's love is easily won
She knew not in sooth if she lived or not,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 10 |
She looked to his face, and it kythed so unkind
A young maid's love is easily won
That her fast coming tears soon rendered her blind,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 11 |
'Have pity on me as I had it on thee,
O why was my love so easily won!
A slave in your kitchen I'm willing to be,
But I may not go back to Northumberland. |
| 12 |
'Or carry me up by the middle sae sma,
O why was my love so easily won!
And fling me headlong from your high castle wa,
For I dare not go back to Northumberland.' |
| 13 |
Her wailing, her woe, for nothing they went,
A young maid's love is easily won
His bosom was stone and he would not relent,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 14 |
He turned him around and he thought of a plan,
A young maid's love is easily won
He bought an old horse and he hired an old man,
To carry her back to Northumberland. |
| 15 |
A heavy heart makes a weary way,
A young maid's love is easily won
She reached her home in the evening gray,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 16 |
And all as she stood at her father's tower-gate,
A young maid's love is easily won
More loud beat her heart than her knock thereat,
And she was the flower of Northumberland. |
| 17 |
Down came her step-dame, so rugged and doure,
O why was your love so easily won!
'In Scotland go back to your false paramour,
For you shall not stay here in Northumberland.' |
| 18 |
Down came her father, he saw her and smiled,
A young maid's love is easily won
'You are not the first that false Scots have beguiled,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland. |
| 19 |
'You shall not want houses, you shall not want land,
A young maid's love is easily won
You shall not want gold for to gain a husband,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland.' |
