Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 15; from the recitation of Mrs.
Thomson, Kilbarchan, February 25, 1825.
| 1 |
Balankin was as gude a mason
as eer picked a stane;
He built up Prime Castle,
but payment gat nane. |
| 2 |
The lord said to his lady,
when he was going abroad,
O beware of Balankin,
for he lyes in the wood. |
| 3 |
The gates they were bolted,
baith outside and in;
At the sma peep of a window
Blankin crap in. |
| 4 |
'Good morrow, good morrow,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Good morrow to yoursell, sir,'
said the false nurse to him. |
| 5 |
'O where is your good lord?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'He's awa to New England,
to meet with his king.' |
| 6 |
'O where is his auld son?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'He's awa to buy pearlings,
Gin our lady lye in.' |
| 7 |
'Then she'll never wear them,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'And that is nae pity,'
said the false nurse to him. |
| 8 |
'O where is your lady?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'She's in her bower sleeping,'
said the false nurse to him. |
| 9 |
'How can we get at her?'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Stab the babe to the heart,
wi a silver bokin.' |
| 10 |
'That would be a pity,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'No pity, no pity,'
said the false nurse to him. |
| 11 |
Balankin he rocked,
and the false nurse she sang,
Till all the tores of the cradle
wi the red blood down ran. |
| 12 |
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the knife!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
tho I lay doun my life.' |
| 13 |
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the kame!'
'He'll be no still, lady,
till his daddy come hame.' |
| 14 |
'O still my babe, nurice,
O still him wi the bell!'
'He'll no be still, lady,
till ye come doun yoursell.' |
| 15 |
'It's how can I come down,
this cauld winter nicht,
Without eer a coal,
or a clear candle-licht?' |
| 16 |
'There's two smocks in your coffer,
as white as a swan;
Put one of them about you,
it will shew you licht down.' |
| 17 |
She took ane o them about her,
and came tripping doun;
But as soon as she viewed,
Balankin was in. |
| 18 |
'Good morrow, good morrow,'
said Lambert Linkin:
'Good morrow to yoursell, sir,
said the lady to him. |
| 19 |
'O save my life, Balankin,
till my husband come back,
And I'll gie you as much red gold
as you'll hold in your hat.' |
| 20 |
'I'll not save your life, lady,
till your husband come back,
Tho you would give me as much red gold
as I could hold in a sack. |
| 21 |
'Will I kill her?' quo Balankin,
'will I kill her, or let her be?'
'You may kill her,' said the false nurse,
'She was neer good to me;
And ye'll be laird of the castle,
and I'll be ladie.' |
| 22 |
Then he cut aff her head
fram her lily breast-bane,
And he hung't up in the kitchen,
it made a' the ha shine. |
| 23 |
The lord sat in England,
a drinking the wine:
'I wish a' may be weel
with my lady at hame;
For the rings of my fingers
the're now burst in twain!' |
| 24 |
He saddled his horse,
and he came riding doun,
But as soon as he viewed,
Balankin was in. |
| 25 |
He had na weel stepped
twa steps up the stair,
Till he saw his pretty young son
lying dead on the floor. |
| 26 |
He had not weel stepped
other twa up the stair,
Till he saw his pretty lady
lying dead in despair. |
| 27 |
He hanged Balankin
out over the gate,
And he burnt the fause nurice,
being under the grate. |
