| 1 |
There were two sisters, they went playing,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
To see their father's ships come sayling in.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 2 |
And when they came unto the sea-brym,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
The elder did push the younger in.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 3 |
'O sister, O sister, take me by the gowne,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
And drawe me up upon the dry ground.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 4 |
'O sister, O sister, that may not bee,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Till salt and oatmeale grow both of a tree.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 5 |
Somtymes she sanke, somtymes she swam,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Until she came unto the mill-dam.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 6 |
The miller runne hastily downe the cliffe,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
And up he betook her withouten her life.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 7 |
What did he doe with her brest-bone?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
He made him a violl to play thereupon.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 8 |
What did he doe with her fingers so small?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
He made him peggs to his violl withall.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 9 |
What did he doe with her nose-ridge?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Unto his violl he made him a bridge.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 10 |
What did he doe with her veynes so blew?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
He made him strings to his violl thereto.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 11 |
What did he doe with her eyes so bright?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Upon his violl he played at first sight.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 12 |
What did he doe with her tongue so rough?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Unto the violl it spake enough.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 13 |
What did he doe with her two shinnes?
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
Unto the violl they danc'd Moll Syms.
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 14 |
Then bespake the treble string,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
'O yonder is my father the king.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 15 |
Then bespake the second string,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
'O yonder sitts my mother the queen.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 16 |
And then bespake the strings all three,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
'O yonder is my sister that drowned mee.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
| 17 |
'Now pay the miller for his payne,
With a hie downe downe a downe-a
And let him bee gone in the divel's name.'
With a hy downe downe a downe-a |
