| 1 |
There was a duke's daughter lived in York,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
So secretly she loved her father's clark.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 2 |
She loved him long and many a day,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
Till big with child she went away.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 3 |
She went into the wide wilderness;
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
Poor she was to be pitied for heaviness.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 4 |
She leant her back against a tree,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there she endurd much misery.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 5 |
She leant her back against an oak,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
With bitter sighs these words she spoke.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 6 |
She set her foot against a thorne,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there she had two pretty babes born.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 7 |
She took her filliting off her head,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there she ty'd them hand and leg.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 8 |
She had a penknife long [and] sharp,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there she stuck them to the heart.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 9 |
She dug a grave, it was long and deep,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there she laid them in to sleep.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 10 |
The coldest earth it was their bed,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
The green grass was their coverlid.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 11 |
As she was a going by her father's hall,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
She see three children a playing at ball.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 12 |
One was drest in scarlet fine,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And the other[s was naked] as ere they was born.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 13 |
'O mother, O mother, if these children was mine,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
I wold dress them [in] scarlet fine.'
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 14 |
'O mother, O mother, when we was thine,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
You did not dress [us] in scarlet fine.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 15 |
'You set your back against a tree,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there you endured great misery.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 16 |
'You set your foot against a thorne,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there you had us pritty babes born.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 17 |
'You took your filliting off your head,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there you bound us, hand to leg.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 18 |
'You had a penknife long and sharp,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there you stuck us to the heart.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 19 |
'You dug a grave, it was long and deep,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And there you laid us in to sleep.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 20 |
The coldest earth it was our bed,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
The green grass was our coverlid.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 21 |
'O mother, mother, for your sin
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
Heaven-gate you shall not enter in.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 22 |
'O mother, mother, for your sin
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
Hell-gates stands open to let you in.'
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 23 |
The lady's cheeks lookd pale and wan,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
'Alass I,' said she, 'what have I done!'
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 24 |
She tore her silken locks of hair,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
And dy'd away in sad despair.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
| 25 |
Young ladies all, of beauty bright,
Come bend and bear away the bows of yew
Take warning by her last good-night.
Gentle hearts, be to me true. |
