Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 97;
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 606.
| 1 |
Hey, love Willie, and how, love Willie,
And Willie my love shall be;
They're thinking to sinder our lang love, Willie;
It's mair than man can dee. |
| 2 |
'Ye'll mount me quickly on a steed,
A milk-white steed or gray,
And carry me on to gude greenwood,
Before that it be day.' |
| 3 |
He mounted her upon a steed,
He chose a steed o gray;
He had her on to gude greenwood,
Before that it was day. |
| 4 |
'O will ye gang to the cards, Meggie?
Or will ye gang wi me?
Or will ye hae a bower-woman,
To stay ere it be day?' |
| 5 |
'I winna gang to the cards,' she said,
'Nor will I gae wi thee,
Nor will I hae a bower-woman,
To spoil my modestie. |
| 6 |
'Ye'll gie me a lady at my back,
An a lady me beforn,
An a midwife at my twa sides,
Till your young son be born. |
| 7 |
'Ye'll do me up, and further up,
To the top o yon greenwood tree;
For every pain myself shall hae,
The same pain ye maun drie.' |
| 8 |
The first pain that did strike Sweet Willie,
It was into the side;
Then sighing sair said Sweet Willie,
These pains are ill to bide! |
| 9 |
The nextan pain that strake Sweet Willie,
It was into the back;
Then sighing sair said Sweet Willie,
These pains are women's wreck! |
| 10 |
The nextan pain that strake Sweet Willie,
It was into the head;
Then sighing sair said Sweet Willie,
I fear my lady's dead! |
| 11 |
Then he's gane on, and further on,
At the foot o yon greenwood tree;
There he got his lady lighter,
Wi his young son on her knee. |
| 12 |
Then he's taen up his little young son,
And kissd him, cheek and chin,
And he is on to his mother,
As fast as he could gang. |
| 13 |
'Ye will take in my son, mother,
Gie him to nurses nine;
Three to wauk, and three to sleep,
And three to fanf between.' |
| 14 |
Then he has left his mother's house,
And frae her he has gane,
And he is back to his lady,
And safely brought her hame. |
| 15 |
Then in it came her father dear,
Was belted in a brand:
'It's nae time for brides to lye in bed,
When the bridegroom's send's in town. |
| 16 |
'There are four-and-twenty noble lords
A' lighted on the green;
The fairest knight amang them a',
He must be your bridegroom.' |
| 17 |
'O wha will shoe my foot, my foot?
And wha will glove my hand?
And wha will prin my sma middle,
Wi the short prin and the lang?' |
| 18 |
Now out it speaks him Sweet Willie,
Who knew her troubles best:
'It is my duty for to serve,
As I'm come here as guest. |
| 19 |
'Now I will shoe your foot, Maisry,
And I will glove your hand,
And I will prin your sma middle,
Wi the sma prin and the lang.' |
| 20 |
'Wha will saddle my steed,' she says,
'And gar my bridle ring?
And wha will hae me to gude church-door,
This day I'm ill abound?' |
| 21 |
'I will saddle your steed, Maisry,
And gar your bridle ring,
And I'll hae you to gude church-door,
And safely set you down.' |
| 22 |
'O healy, healy take me up,
And healy set me down,
And set my back until a wa,
My foot to yird-fast stane.' |
| 23 |
He healy took her frae her horse,
And healy set her down,
And set her back until a wa,
Her foot to yird-fast stane. |
| 24 |
When they had eaten and well drunken,
And a' had thornd fine,
The bride's father he took the cup,
For to serve out the wine. |
| 25 |
Out it speaks the bridegroom's brother,
An ill death mat he die!
'I fear our bride she's born a bairn,
Or else has it a dee.' |
| 26 |
She's taen out a Bible braid,
And deeply has she sworn;
'If I hae born a bairn,' she says,
'Sin yesterday at morn, |
| 27 |
'Or if I've born a bairn,' she says,
'Sin yesterday at noon,
There's nae a lady amang you a'
That woud been here sae soon.' |
| 28 |
Then out it spake the bridegroom's man,
Mischance come ower his heel!
'Win up, win up, now bride,' he says,
'And dance a shamefu reel.' |
| 29 |
Then out it speaks the bride hersell,
And a sorry heart had she:
'Is there nae ane amang you a'
Will dance this dance for me?' |
| 30 |
Then out it speaks him Sweet Willie,
And he spake aye thro pride:
'O draw my boots for me, bridegroom,
Or I dance for your bride.' |
| 31 |
Then out it spake the bride hersell:
O na, this maunna be;
For I will dance this dance mysell,
Tho my back shoud gang in three. |
| 32 |
She hadna well gane thro the reel,
Nor yet well on the green,
Till she fell down at Willie's feet
As cauld as ony stane. |
| 33 |
He's taen her in his arms twa,
And haed her up the stair;
Then up it came her jolly bridegroom,
Says, What's your business there? |
| 34 |
Then Willie lifted up his foot,
And dang him down the stair,
And brake three ribs o the bridegroom's side,
And a word he spake nae mair. |
| 35 |
Nae meen was made for that lady,
When she was lying dead;
But a' was for him Sweet Willie,
On the fields for he ran mad. |
