Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 246, from Mary Barr.
| 1 |
Lambkin was as good a mason
as ever laid stone;
He builded Lord Montgomery's castle,
but payment got none. |
| 2 |
He builded the castle
without and within;
But he left an open wake
for himself to get in. |
| 3 |
Lord Montgomery said to his lady,
when he went abroad,
Take care of Bold Lambkin,
for he is in the wood. |
| 4 |
'Gar bolt the gate, nourice,
without and within,
Leave not the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in.' |
| 5 |
She bolted the gates,
without and within,
But she left the wake open,
to let Bold Lambkin in. |
| 6 |
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
says Bold Lambkin then;
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
says the false nurse to him. |
| 7 |
'Where is Lord Montgomery?
or where is he gone?'
'He is gone up to England,
to wait on the king! |
| 8 |
'Where are the servants?
and where are they gone?'
'They are all up to England,
to wait upon him.' |
| 9 |
'Where is your lady?
or where is she gone?'
'She is in her bower sitting,
and sewing her seam.' |
| 10 |
'O what shall we do
for to make her come down?'
'We'll kill the pretty baby,
that's sleeping so sound.' |
| 11 |
Lambkin he rocked,
and the false nurse she sung,
And she stabbed the babe to the heart
with a silver bodkin. |
| 12 |
'O still my babe, nourice,
O still him with the pap:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
for this nor for that.' |
| 13 |
'O still my babe, nourice,
go still him with the keys:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
let me do what I please.' |
| 14 |
'O still my babe, nourice,
go still him with the bell:'
'He'll no be stilled, madam,
till you come down yoursel.' |
| 15 |
'How can I come down,
this cold winter night,
When there's neither coal burning,
nor yet candle-light?' |
| 16 |
'The sark on your back
is whiter than the swan;
Come down the stair, lady,
by the light of your hand.' |
| 17 |
The lady she cam down
the stair trip for trap;
Who so ready as Bold Lambkin
to meet her in the dark? |
| 18 |
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
said Bold Lambkin then;
'Gude morrow, gude morrow,'
said the lady to him. |
| 19 |
'O where is Lord Montgomery?
or where is he gone?'
'O he is up to England,
to wait on the king.' |
| 20 |
'O where are your servants?
or where are they gone?'
'They are all up to England,
to wait upon him. |
| 21 |
'I'll give you as much gold, Lambkin,
as you'll put in a peck,
If you'll spare my life
till my lord comes back.' |
| 22 |
'Tho you would [give] me as much
as I could put in a sack,
I would not spare thy life
till thy lord comes back.' |
| 23 |
Lord Montgomery sate in England,
drinking with the king;
The buttons flew off his coat,
all in a ring. |
| 24 |
'God prosper, God prosper
my lady and son!
For before I get home
they will all be undone.' |
