Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 310, from the recitation of Jeanie
Nicol, May 4, 1825.
| 1 |
Sweet William and the young Colnel
One day was drinking wine:
'It's I will marry your sister,
If ye will marry mine.' |
| 2 |
'I will not marry your sister,
Altho her hair be brown;
But I'll keep her for my liberty-wife,
As I ride thro the town.' |
| 3 |
William, having his two-edged sword,
He leaned quite low to the ground,
And he has given the young Colnel
A deep and a deadly wound. |
| 4 |
He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,
Till he came to his mother's bower;
'O open, open, mother,' he says,
'And let your auld son in. |
| 5 |
'For the rain rains owre my yellow hair,
And the dew draps on my chin,
And trembling stands the gallant steed
That carries me from the ground.' |
| 6 |
'What aileth thee, Sweet William?' she says,
'What harm now hast thou done?'
'Oh I hae killed the young Colnel,
And his heart's blood sair does run.' |
| 7 |
'If ye hae killed the young Colnel,
Nae shelter ye'll get frae me;
May the two-edged sword be upon your heart,
That never hath power to flee!' |
| 8 |
He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,
Till he came to his sister's bower;
'Oh open, open, sister,' he says,
'And let your brother in. |
| 9 |
'For the rain rains on my yellow hair,
And the dew draps on my chin,
And trembling stands the gallant steed
That carries me from the ground.' |
| 10 |
'What aileth thee, Sweet William?' she says,
'What harm now hast thou done?'
'Oh I have killed the young Colnel,
And his heart's blood sair doth run.' |
| 11 |
'If ye hae killed the young Colnel,
Nae shelter ye'll get frae me;
May the two-edged sword be upon your heart,
That never hath power to flee!' |
| 12 |
He rade, he rade, and awa he rade,
Till he came to his true-love's bower;
'Oh open, oh open, my true-love,' he says,
'And let your sweetheart in. |
| 13 |
'For the rain rains on my yellow hair,
And the dew draps on my chin,
And trembling stands the gallant steed
That carries me from the ground.' |
| 14 |
'What aileth thee, Sweet William?' she says,
'What harm now hast thou done?'
'Oh I hae killed thy brother dear,
And his heart's blood sair doth run.' |
| 15 |
'If ye hae killed my brother dear,
It's oh and alace for me!
But between the blankets and the sheets
It's there I will hide thee!' |
| 16 |
She's taen him by the milk-white hand,
She's led him thro chambers three,
Until she came to her own chamber:
'It's there I will hide thee. |
| 17 |
'Lye down, lye down, Sweet William,' she says,
'Lye down and take a sleep;
It's owre the chamber I will watch,
Thy fair bodie to keep.' |
| 18 |
She had not watched at the chamber-door
An hour but only three,
Till four and twenty belted knichts
Did seek his fair bodie. |
| 19 |
'O did you see the hunt?' she says,
'Or did you see the hounds?
Or did you see that gallant steed,
That last rade thro the town?' |
| 20 |
'What colour was the fox?' they said,
'What colour was the hounds?
What colour was the gallant steed,
That's far yont London toun?' |
| 21 |
'O dark grey was the fox,' she said,
'And light grey was the hounds,
But milk-white was the gallant steed
That's far yont London town.' |
| 22 |
'Rise up, rise up, Sweet William,' she says,
'Rise up, and go away;
For four and twenty belted knights
Were seeking thy bodye.' |
| 23 |
Sweet William, having his two-edged sword,
He leaned it quite low to the ground,
And he has given his own true-love
A deep and deadly wound. |
| 24 |
'What aileth thee, Sweet William?' she says,
'What harm now have I done?
I never harmed a hair of your head
Since ever this love began.' |
| 25 |
'Oh live, oh live, my own true-love,
Oh live but half an hour,
And the best doctor in London town
Shall come within thy bower.' |
| 26 |
'How can I live? how shall I live?
How can I live half an hour?
For don't you see my very heart's blood
All sprinkled on the floor?' |
| 27 |
William, having his two-edged sword,
He leaned it quite low to the ground,
And he has given his own bodie
A deep and deadly wound. |
