Campbell Manuscript, II, 88.
| 1 |
There dwelt twa sisters in a bower,
Benorie, O Benorie
The youngest o them was the fairest flower.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 2 |
There cam a wooer them to woo,
Benorie, O Benorie
. . . . .
. . . . . |
| 3 |
He's gien the eldest o them a broach and a real,
Benorie, O Benorie
Because that she loved her sister weel.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 4 |
He's gien the eldest a gay penknife,
Benorie, O Benorie
He loved the youngest as dear as his life.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 5 |
'O sister, O sister, will ye go oer yon glen,
Benorie, O Benorie
And see my father's ships coming in?'
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 6 |
'O sister dear, I darena gang,
Benorie, O Benorie
Because I'm feard ye throw me in.'
The merry milldams o Benorie |
| 7 |
'O set your foot on yon sea stane,
Benorie, O Benorie
And was yeer hands in the sea foam.'
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 8 |
She set her foot on yon sea stane,
Benorie, O Benorie
To wash her hands in the sea foam.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 9 |
. . . . .
Benorie, O Benorie
But the eldest has thrown the youngest in.
The merry milldams o Benorie |
| 10 |
'O sister, O sister, lend me your hand,
Benorie, O Benorie
And ye'se get William and a' his land.'
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 11 |
The miller's daughter cam out clad in red,
Benorie, O Benorie
Seeking water to bake her bread.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 12 |
'O father, O father, gae fish yeer mill-dam,
Benorie, O Benorie
There's either a lady or a milk-[white] swan.'
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 13 |
The miller cam out wi his lang cleek,
Benorie, O Benorie
And he cleekit the lady out by the feet.
From the merry milldam o Benorie |
| 14 |
Ye wadna kend her pretty feet,
Benorie, O Benorie
The American leather was sae neat.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 15 |
Ye wadna kend her pretty legs,
Benorie, O Benorie
The silken stockings were so neat tied.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 16 |
Ye wadna kend her pretty waist,
Benorie, O Benorie
The silken stays were sae neatly laced.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 17 |
Ye wadna kend her pretty face,
Benorie, O Benorie
It was sae prettily preend oer wi lace.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 18 |
Ye wadna kend her yellow hair,
Benorie, O Benorie
It was sae besmeared wi dust and glar.
In the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 19 |
By cam her father's fiddler fine,
Benorie, O Benorie
And that lady's spirit spake to him.
From the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 20 |
She bad him take three taits o her hair,
Benorie, O Benorie
And make them three strings to his fiddle sae rare.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 21 |
'Take two of my fingers, sae lang and sae white,
Benorie, O Benorie
And make them pins to your fiddle sae neat.'
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 22 |
The ae first spring that the fiddle played
Benorie, O Benorie
Was, Cursed be Sir John, my ain true-love.
At the merry milldams o Benorie |
| 23 |
The next spring that the fiddle playd
Benorie, O Benorie
Was, Burn burd Hellen, she threw me in.
The the merry milldams o Benorie |
