Ed de Moel

Child Ballads - Lyrics

Child 194
The Laird of Wariston
Version B

Kinloch Manuscripts, VII, 217; from the recitation of Jenny Watson.

Narrative

1   It was at dinner as they sat,
And whan they drank the wine,
How happy war the laird and lady
Of bonnie Wariston!
2   The lady spak but ae word,
The matter to conclude;
The laird strak her on the mouth,
Till she spat out o blude.
3   She did not know the way
Her mind to satisfy,
Till evil cam in to [her] head
All by the Enemy.
4   'At evening when ye sit,
And whan ye drink the wine,
See that ye fill the glass weill up
To the laird o Wariston.'
5   So at table whan they sat,
And whan they drank the wine,
She made the glass aft gae round
To the laird o Wariston.
6   The nurice she knet the knot,
And O she knet it sicker!
The lady did gie it a twig,
Till it began to wicker.
7   But word's gane doun to Leith,
And up to Embro toun,
That the lady she has slain the laird,
The laird o Waristoun.
8   Word has gane to her father, the grit Dunipace,
And an angry man was he;
Cries, Gar mak a barrel o pikes,
And row her down some lea!
9   She said, Wae be to ye, Wariston,
I wish ye may sink for sin!
For I have been your wife
These nine years, running ten;
And I never loved ye sae well
As now whan ye're lying slain.
10   'But tak aff this gowd brocade,
And let my petticoat stay,
And tie a handkerchief round my face,
That the people may not see.'

This page most recently updated on 06-Mar-2011, 16:39:46.
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