| 1 |
Two pretty boys lived in the North,
The went to the school so rare;
The one unto the other said,
We'll try some battle of war. |
| 2 |
The worselaid up, the worselaid down,
Till John lay on the ground;
A pen-knife out of William's pocket
Gave John a deadly wound. |
| 3 |
'O is it for my gold?' he said,
'Or for my rich monie?
Or is it for my land sa broad,
That you have killed me?' |
| 4 |
'It's neither for your gold,' he said,
'Or for your rich monie,
But it is for your land sa broad
That I have killed thee.' |
| 5 |
'You'll take [me] up upon your back,
Carry me to Wastlen kirk-yard;
You'ill houk a hole large and deep,
And lay my body there. |
| 6 |
'You'll put a good stone ou my head,
Another at me feet,
A good green turf upon my breast,
That the sounder I m[a]y sleep. |
| 7 |
'And if my father chance to ask
What's come of your brother John,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
* * * * * |
| 8 |
'What blood is this upon your coat?
I pray come tell to me;'
'It is the blood of my grey hound,
It would not run for me.' |
| 9 |
'The blood of your greyhound was near so red,
I pray come tell to me;'
'It is the blood of my black horse,
It would not hunt for me.' |
| 10 |
'The blood of your black horse was near so red,
I pray come tell to me;'
'It is the blood of my brother John,
Since better canna be.'
* * * * * |
| 11 |
He put his foot upon a ship,
Saying, I am gane our the sea;
'O when will you come back again,
I pray come tell to me.' |
| 12 |
'When the sun and the moon passes over the broom,
That['s] the day you'll never see.' |
