Chapter X: Book I: 1. Thomas the Rhymer (2)

But as it fell out, on last Hallowe’en,
When the Seely Court[118] was ridin’ by,
The Queen lighted down on a gowany[119] bank
Nae far frae the tree where I wont to lye.

XIII

She took me up in her milk-white han’,
An’ she’s straik’d me three times o’er her knee;
She changed me again to my ain proper shape,
An’ nae mair I toddle about the tree.

FOOTNOTES:

[115] trysted = invited.

[116] lemman = sweetheart.

[117] haud = hold, keep.

[118] Seely Court = the Happy Court (of the Fairies).

[119] gowany = daisied.

_13. Kemp Owyne_

I

Her mother died when she was young,
Which gave her cause to make great moan;
Her father married the warst woman
That ever lived in Christendom.

II

She servèd her wi’ foot and hand
In everything that she could dee[120],
Till once, in an unlucky time
She threw her owre a craig[121] o’ the sea.

III

Says, ‘Lie you there, dove Isabel,
And all my sorrows lie wi’ thee!
Till Kemp[122] Owyne come to the craig,
And borrow[123] you wi’ kisses three.’

IV

Her breath grew strang, her hair grew lang
And twisted thrice about the tree,
And all the people, far and near,
Thought that a savage beast was she.

V

And aye she cried for Kemp Owyne
Gin that he would but com’ to her hand:--
Now word has gane to Kemp Owyne
That siccan[124] a beast was in his land.

VI

‘Now by my sooth,’ says Kemp Owyne,
‘This fiery beast I’ll gang to see’;
‘And by my sooth,’ says Segramour,
‘My ae brother, I’ll gang you wi’.’

VII

O they have biggit[125] a bonny boat,
And they have set her to the sea;
But a mile before they reach’d the shore
I wot she gar’d[126] the red fire flee.

VIII

‘O brother, keep my boat afloat,
An’ lat her na the land so near!
For the wicked beast she’ll sure go mad,
An’ set fire to the land an’ mair.’

IX

Syne he has bent an arblast bow
And aim’d an arrow at her head,
And swore, if she didna quit the land,
Wi’ that same shaft to shoot her dead.

X

‘O out o’ my stythe[127] I winna rise--
And it is na for the fear o’ thee--
Till Kemp Owyne, the kingis son,
Come to the craig an’ thrice kiss me.’

XI

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang
And twisted thrice about the tree,
And with a swing she came about:
‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

XII

‘Here is a royal belt,’ she cried,
‘That I have found in the green sea;
And while your body it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I swear my belt your death shall be.’

XIII

He’s louted[128] him o’er the Eastmuir craig,
As out she swang and about the tree;
He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,
The royal belt he brought him wi’.

XIV

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang
And twisted twice about the tree,
As awa’ she gid[129], and again she swang--
‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

XV

‘Here is a royal ring,’ she said,
‘That I have found in the green sea;
And while your finger it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I swear my ring your death shall be.’

XVI

He’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,
As out she swang and about the tree;
He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,
The royal ring he brought him wi’.

XVII

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang
And twisted ance about the tree,
As awa’ she gid and again she swang--
‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

XVIII

‘Here is a royal brand,’ she said,
‘That I have found in the green sea;
And while your body it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I swear my brand your death shall be.’

XIX

He’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,
As out she swang and about the tree;
He steppèd in, gave her a kiss
That royal brand he brought him wi’.

XX

Her breath was sweet, her hair grew short,
And twisted nane about the tree,
As awa’ she gid and again she came
The fairest lady that ever could be.

XXI

‘O was it a wer-wolf into[130] the wood,
Or was it a mermaid into the sea,
Or was it a man or a vile woman,
My true love, that mis-shapit thee?’--

XXII

‘It was na wer-wolf into the wood,
Nor was it mermaid into the sea,
But and it was my vile stepmother,
And wae and weary mote she be!

XXIII

‘O a heavier weird shall light her on,
Her hair sall grow rough an’ her teeth grow lang,
And [aye] on her four feet sall she gang,
And aye in Wormeswood sall she won[131]!’

FOOTNOTES:

[120] dee = do.

[121] craig = rock.

[122] Kemp = champion, knight.

[123] borrow = ransom.

[124] siccan = such.

[125] biggit = built.

[126] gar’d = made.

[127] stythe = place, station.

[128] louted = bowed.

[129] gid = went.

[130] into = in.

[131] won = dwell.

_14. The Laily Worm_

_and the Machrel of the Sea_

I

‘I was but seven year auld
When my mither she did dee;
My father married the ae warst woman
The warld did ever see.

II

‘For she has made me the laily[132] worm,
That lies at the fit o’ the tree,
An’ my sister Masery she’s made
The machrel of the sea.

III

‘An’ every Saturday at noon
The machrel comes to me,
An’ she takes my laily head
An’ lays it on her knee,
She kaims it wi’ a siller kaim,
An’ washes ’t in the sea.

IV

‘Seven knights hae I slain,
Sin I lay at the fit of the tree,
An’ ye war na my ain father,
The eighth ane ye should be.’--

V

‘Sing on your song, ye laily worm,
That ye did sing to me.’--
‘I never sung that song but what
I would sing it to thee.

VI

‘I was but seven year auld,
When my mither she did dee;
My father married the ae warst woman
The warld did ever see.

VII

‘For she changed me to the laily worm,
That lies at the fit o’ the tree,
And my sister Masery
To the machrel of the sea.

VIII

‘And every Saturday at noon
The machrel comes to me,
An’ she takes my laily head
An’ lays it on her knee,
An’ kames it wi’ a siller kame,
An’ washes it i’ the sea.

IX

‘Seven knights hae I slain
Sin I lay at the fit o’ the tree;
An’ ye war na my ain father,
The eighth ane ye should be.’

X

He sent for his lady,
As fast as send could he:
‘Whar is my son that ye sent frae me,
And my daughter, Lady Masery?’--

XI

‘Your son is at our king’s court,
Serving for meat an’ fee,
An’ your daughter’s at our queen’s court,
The queen’s maiden to be.’--

XII

‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye ill woman,
Sae loud as I hear ye lee;
My son’s the laily worm,
That lies at the fit o’ the tree,
And my daughter, Lady Masery,
Is the machrel of the sea!’

XIII

She has tane a siller wan’,
An’ gi’en him strokès three,
And he’s started up the bravest knight
That ever your eyes did see.

XIV

She has ta’en a small horn,
An’ loud an’ shrill blew she,
An’ a’ the fish came her untill
But the machrel of the sea:
‘Ye shapeit me ance an unseemly shape,
An’ ye’s never mare shape me.’

XV

He has sent to the wood
For whins and for hawthorn,
An’ he has ta’en that gay lady,
An’ there he did her burn.

FOOTNOTES:

[132] laily = loathly.

_15. King Orfeo_

_A Shetland Ballad._

I

Der lived a king inta da aste[133],
_Scowan ürla grün_[134]
Der lived a lady in da wast.
_Whar giorten han grün oarlac._[135]

II

Dis king he has a huntin gaen,
He’s left his Lady Isabel alane.

III

‘Oh I wis ye’d never gaen away,
For at your hame is döl an wae.

IV

‘For da king o Ferrie we his daert,
Has pierced your lady to da hert.’

* * * * *

V

And aifter dem da king has gaen,
But when he cam it was a grey stane.

VI

Dan he took oot his pipes ta play,
Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

VII

And first he played da notes o noy[136],
An dan he played da notes o joy.

VIII

An dan he played da göd gabber reel[137],
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.

* * * * *

IX

‘Noo come ye in inta wir[138] ha’,
An come ye in among wis[139] a’.’

X

Now he’s gaen in inta der ha’,
An he’s gaen in among dem a’.

XI

Dan he took out his pipes to play,
Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

XII

An first he played da notes o noy,
An dan he played da notes o joy.

XIII

An dan he played da göd gabber reel,
Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.

XIV

‘Noo tell to us what ye will hae:
What sall we gie you for your play?’--

XV

‘What I will hae I will you tell,
An dat’s me Lady Isabel.’--

XVI

‘Yees tak your lady, an yees gaeng hame,
An yees be king ower a’ your ain.’

XVII

He’s taen his lady, an he’s gaen hame,
An noo he’s king ower a’ his ain.

FOOTNOTES:

[133] aste = east.

[134] _Scowan_ &c. = Early green’s the wood.

[135] _giorten_ &c. = Where the hart goes yearly.

[136] noy = grief.

[137] göd gabber reel = the rollicking dance-tune.

[138] wir = our.

[139] wis = us.

_16. King Henry_

I

Let never a man a wooing wend
That lacketh thingis three;
A routh[140] o’ gold, an open heart
And fu’ o’ courtesye.

II

As this I speak of King Henry,
For he lay burd-alone[141];
An’ he’s doen him to a jelly[142] hunt’s ha’
Was seven mile frae a town.

III

He’s chased the deer down him before,
An’ the roe down by the den,
Till the fattest buck in a’ the flock
King Henry he has slain.

IV

O he has doen him to his ha’
To make him bierly[143] cheer;
An’ in it came a griesly ghost
Steed stappin’ i’ the fleer[144].

V

Her head hat[145] the roof-tree o’ the house,
Her middle ye weel mot[146] span;
He’s thrown to her his gay mantle,
Says, ‘Lady, hap[147] your lingcan[148].’

VI

Her teeth were a’ like teather stakes[149],
Her nose like club or mell[150];
An’ I ken naething she ’pear’d to be
But the fiend that wons[151] in hell.

VII

‘Some meat, some meat, ye King Henry,
Some meat ye gie to me!’--
‘An’ what meat’s in this house, ladye,
That ye’re not welcome tae?’--
‘O ye’se gae[152] kill your berry-brown steed,
And serve him up to me.’

VIII

O whan he slew his berry-brown steed,
Wow but his heart was sair!
She ate him a’ up, skin an’ bane,
Left naething but hide an’ hair.

IX

‘Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,
Mair meat ye gie to me!’--
‘An’ what meat’s in this house, ladye,
That ye’re not welcome tae?’--
‘O do ye slay your good grey-hounds
An’ bring them a’ to me.’

X

O whan he slew his good grey-hounds,
Wow but his heart was sair!
She ate them a’ up, skin an’ bane,
Left naething but hide an’ hair.

XI

‘Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry,
Mair meat ye gie to me!’--
‘An’ what meat’s in this house, ladye,
That ye’re not welcome tae?’--
‘O do ye kill your gay goss-hawks
An’ bring them a’ to me.’

XII

O whan he fell’d his gay goss-hawks,
Wow but his heart was sair!
She’s ate them a’ up, skin an’ bane,
Left naethin’ but feathers bare.

XIII

‘Some drink, some drink, now, King Henry,
Some drink ye bring to me!’--
‘O what drink’s in this house, ladye,
That ye’re not welcome tae?’--
‘O ye sew up your horse’s hide,
An’ bring in drink to me.’

XIV

O he’s sew’d up the bluidy hide,
A puncheon o’ wine put in;
She’s drunk it a’ up at a waught[153],
Left na ae drap ahin’[154].

XV

‘A bed, a bed, now King Henry,
A bed ye’se mak’ to me!’--
‘An’ what’s the bed in this house, ladye,
That ye’re not welcome tae?’--
‘O ye maun pu’ the heather green,
An’ mak’ a bed to me.’

XVI

Syne pu’d he has the heather green,
An’ made to her a bed,
An’ up has he ta’en his gay mantle,
An’ o’er it he has spread.

XVII

‘Tak’ off your claiths now, King Henry,
An’ lie down by my side!’--
‘O God forbid,’ says King Henry,
‘That ever the like betide;
That ever a fiend that wons in hell
Shou’d streak[155] down by my side!’

XVIII

But whan day was come, and night was gane,
An’ the sun shone thro’ the ha’,
The fairest ladye that ever was seen
[Cam’ to his armès twa].

XIX

‘O weel is me!’ says King Henry,
‘How lang’ll this last wi’ me?’
Then out an’ spake that fair ladye,
‘Even till the day you dee.

XX

‘For I’ve met wi’ many a gentle knight
That’s gien me sic a fill;
But never before wi’ a courteous knight
That ga’e me a’ my will.’

FOOTNOTES:

[140] routh = plenty.

[141] burd-alone = lone as a maid.

[142] jelly = jolly, jovial.

[143] bierly = stout, handsome.

[144] fleer = floor.

[145] hat = hit.

[146] mot = might.

[147] hap = cover.

[148] lingcan _for_ lycam = body.

[149] teather stakes = tether pegs.

[150] mell = mallet.

[151] wons = dwells.

[152] ye’se gae = you shall go.

[153] waught = draught.

[154] ahin’ = behind.

[155] streak = stretch.

_17. The Boy and the Mantle_

_A Ballad of King Arthur’s Court._

I

In the third day of May
To Carleile did come
A kind curteous child
That co’ld[156] much of wisdome.

II

A kirtle and a mantle
This child had uppon,
With brauches and ringes
Full richelye bedone[157].

III

He had a sute of silke
About his middle drawne;
Without he co’ld of curtesye
He thought it much shame.

IV

‘God speed thee, King Arthur,
Sitting at thy meate;
And the goodly Queene Guenever!
I cannot her forget.

V

‘I tell you, lords in this hall,
I hett[158] you all heed,
Except you be the more surer
Is for you to dread.’

VI

He pluck’d out of his potener[159],
And longer wo’ld not dwell,
He pull’d forth a pretty mantle
Betweene two nut-shells.

VII

‘Have thou here, King Arthur,
Have thou here of mee:
Give itt to thy comely queene
Shapen as itt is alreadye.

VIII

‘Itt shall never become that wiffe
That hath once done amisse.’
Then every knight in the king’s court
Began to care[160] for his.

IX

Forth came dame Guenever,
To the mantle she her bed[161];
The ladye shee was new fangle[162]
But yett she was affrayd.

X

When shee had taken the mantle,
She stoode as shee had beene madd;
It was from the top to the toe
As sheeres had it shread.

XI

One while was it gaule[163],
Another while was itt greene,
Another while was it wadded[164];
Ill itt did her beseeme.

XII

Another while it was blacke,
And bore the worst hue:
‘By my troth,’ quoth King Arthur,
‘I thinke thou be not true.’

XIII

Shee threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee[165];
Fast with a rudd red
To her chamber can[166] she flee.

XIV

She cursed the weaver and the walker[167]
That cloth that had wrought,
And bade a vengeance on his crowne
That hither hath itt brought.

XV

‘I had rather be in a wood,
Under a greenè tree,
Than in King Arthur’s court
Shamèd for to bee.’

XVI

Kay call’d forth his ladye
And bade her come neere;
Saies, ‘Madam, and thou be guiltye
I pray thee hold thee here.’

XVII

Forth came his ladye
Shortlye and anon;
Boldlye to the mantle
Then is she gone.

XVIII

When she had tane the mantle,
And her about it cast
Then was she bare
All unto the waist.

XIX

Then every knight
That was in the King’s court
Talk’d, laugh’d and showted
Full oft att that sport.

XX

She threw down the mantle
That bright was of blee,
Fast with a red rudd[168]
To her chamber can she flee.

XXI

Forth came an old Knight
Pattering ore a creede,
And he proferr’d to this little Boy
Twenty markes to his meede;

XXII

And all the time of Christmasse
Willingly to ffeede;
For why[169] this mantle might
Doe his wiffe some need.

XXIII

When shee had tane the mantle
Of cloth that was made,
Shee had no more left on her
But a tassell and a threed:
That every knight in the King’s court
Bade evill might shee speed.

XXIV

She threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee,
Fast with a red rudd
To her chamber can she flee.

XXV

Craddocke call’d forth his ladye
And bade her come in;
Saith, ‘Winne this mantle, ladye,
With a little dinne[170].

XXVI

‘Winne this mantle, ladye,
And it shal be thine
If thou never did amisse
Since thou wast mine.’

XXVII

Forth came Craddocke’s ladye
Shortlye and anon,
But boldlye to the mantle
Then is shee gone.

XXVIII

When she had tane the mantle
And cast it her about,
Up at her great toe
It began to crinkle and crowt[171]:
Shee said, ‘Bowe downe, mantle,
And shame me not for nought.

XXIX

‘Once I did amisse,
I tell you certainlye,
When Craddocke’s mouth I kist
Under a greenè tree;
When I kist Craddocke’s mouth
Before he marryed mee.’

XXX

When shee had her shreeven[172]
And her sinnes shee had tolde,
The mantle stood about her
Right as she wo’ld;

XXXI

Seemelye of coulour,
Glittering like gold
Then every knight in Arthur’s court
Did her behold.

* * * * *

XXXII

The little Boy stoode
Looking over a dore;
[There as he look’d
He was ware of a wyld bore.]

XXXIII

He was ware of a wyld bore
Wo’ld have werryed[173] a man:
He pull’d forth a wood-kniffe
Fast thither that he ran:
He brought in the bore’s head
And quitted him like a man.

XXXIV

He brought in the bore’s head,
And was wonderous bold;
He said there was never a cuckold’s kniffe
Carve itt that co’ld.

XXXV

Some rubb’d their knives
Uppon a whetstone;
Some threw them under the table,
And said they had none.

XXXVI

King Arthur and the child
Stood looking them upon;
All their knives’ edges
Turnèd backe againe.

XXXVII

Craddocke had a litle kniffe
Of iron and of steele;
He birtled[174] the bore’s head
Wonderous weale,
That every knight in the King’s court
Had a morssell.

XXXVIII

The litle Boy had a horne,
Of red gold that ronge[175];
He said, ‘There was noe cuckolde
Shall drinke of my horne,
But he sho’ld itt sheede[176]
Either behind or beforne.’

XXXIX

Some shedd it on their shoulder
And some on their knee;
He that co’ld not hitt his mouth
Put it in his e’e;
And he that was a cuckold
Every man might him see.

XL

Craddocke wan the horne
And the bore’s head;
His ladye wan the mantle
Unto her meede;
Everye such a lovely ladye
God send her well to speede!

FOOTNOTES:

[156] co’ld = could, knew.

[157] bedone = adorned.

[158] hett = bid.

[159] potener = pouch, purse.

[160] care = bethink him.

[161] bed = bid, offered.

[162] new fangle = capricious.

[163] gaule = gules, red.

[164] wadded = of woad colour, blue.

[165] blee = hue.

[166] can = did.

[167] walker = fuller.

[168] rudd = complexion.

[169] For why = because.

[170] dinne = noise, i. e. ado.

[171] crowt = pucker.

[172] shreeven = shriven, confessed.

[173] werryed = worried.

[174] birtled = brittled, cut up.

[175] ronge = rung, resounded.

[176] sheede = shed, spill.

_18. King Arthur and King Cornwall_

_A Fragment_

King Arthur of Little Britain unwisely boasts the beauty of his famous Round Table.

I

Saies, ‘Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay,
My sisters sonne be yee;
Ffor you shall see one of the fairest round tables
That ever you see with your eye.’

II

Then bespake Lady Queen Guenever,
And these were the words said shee:
‘I know where a round table is, thou noble king,
Is worth thy round table and other such three.

III

‘The trestle that stands under this round table,’ she said,
‘Lowe downe to the mould,
It is worth thy round table, thou worthy king,
Thy halls, and all thy gold.

IV

‘The place where this round table stands in,
[Is fencèd round amaine]
It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee,
And all good Litle Britaine.’

V

‘Where may that table be, lady?’ quoth hee,
‘Or where may all that goodly building be?’
‘You shall it seeke,’ shee says, ‘till you it find;
You shall never gett more of me.’

VI

Then bespake him noble King Arthur
These were the words said hee:
‘I’le make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,

VII

‘I’le never sleepe one night there as I doe another
’Till that round table I see:
Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,
Fellowes that ye shall bee.

VIII

[‘Sir Gawaine and Sir Bredbettle
Be fellowes eke with me,]
Weele be clad in palmers’ weede,
Five palmers we will bee;

IX

‘There is noe outlandish man will us abide,
Nor will us come nye.’
Then they rived[177] east and they rived west,
In many a strange countrỳ.

X

Then they tranckled[178] a litle further,
They saw a battle new sett:
‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,
[‘These armies be well met.’]

After travelling in many strange lands they arrive at the castle of King Cornwall, not a great way from home.

XI

But when he cam to this [Cornwall castle]
And to the palace gate,
Soe ready was ther a proud portèr,
And met him soone therat.

XII

Shooes of gold the porter had on,
And all his other rayment was unto the same:
‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,
‘Yonder is a minion swaine.’

XIII

Then bespake noble King Arthur,
These were the words says hee:
‘Come thou hither, thou proud portèr,
I pray thee come hither to me.

XIV

‘I have two poore rings, of my finger,
The better of them I’le give to thee;
Tell who may be lord of this castle,
Or who is lord in this cuntry?’

XV

‘Cornewall King,’ the porter sayes,
‘There is none soe rich as hee;
Neither in christendome, nor yet in heathendom,
None hath soe much gold as he.’

XVI

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
These were the words sayes hee:
‘I have two poore rings of my finger,
The better of them I’le give thee,
If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,
And greete him well from me.

XVII

‘Pray him for one night’s lodging and two meales’ meate,
For his love that dyed uppon a tree;
Of one ghesting[179] and two meales’ meate,
For his love that dyed uppon tree.

XVIII

‘Of one ghesting, of two meales’ meate,
For his love that was of virgin borne,
And in the morning that we may scape away,
Either without scath or scorne.’

XIX

Then forth is gone this proud portèr,
As fast as he co’ld hye,
And when he came befor Cornewall King,
He kneelèd downe on his knee.

XX

Sayes, ‘I have beene porter-man at thy gate
This thirty winter and three,
[But there is ffive knights before itt now,
The like I never did see.’]

King Cornwall questioning the strangers, they happen to speak of a certain shrine of Our Lady, from which he gathers that they have been in Little Britain. This leads him to question them concerning King Arthur.

XXI

* * * * *

Our Lady was borne; then thought Cornewall King
‘These palmers had beene in Brittaine.’

XXII

Then bespake him Cornewall King,
These were the words he said there:
‘Did you ever know a comely king,
His name was King Arthùr?’

XXIII

And then bespake him noble King Arthùr,
These were the words said hee:
‘I doe not know that comly king,
But once my selfe I did him see.’
Then bespake Cornewall King againe,
These were the words said he:

XXIV

Sayes, ‘Seven yeere I was clad and fed,
In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;
I had a daughter by King Arthur’s wife,
That now is called my flower;
For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,
Hath none such in his bower.

XXV

‘For I durst sweare, and save my othe,
That same lady soe bright,
That a man that were laid on his death bed
Wo’ld open his eyes on her to have sight.’--
‘Now, by my faith,’ sayes noble King Arthur,
‘And that’s a full faire wight!’

XXVI

And then bespake Cornewall [King] againe,
And these were the words he said:
‘Come hither, five or three of my knights,
And feitch me downe my steed;
King Arthur, that foule cockeward,
Hath none such, if he had need.

XXVII

‘For I can ryde him as far on a day
As King Arthur can any of his on three;
And is it not a pleasure for a king
When he shall ryde forth on his journèy?

XXVIII

‘For the eyes that beene in his head,
They glister as doth the gleed[180].’
‘Now, by my faith,’ says noble King Arthur,
‘That is a well faire steed.’

After showing them other of his possessions, King Cornwall has the strangers conducted to bed; but first takes the precaution to conceal the Burlow Beanie, or Billy Blind--friendly household spirit--in a rubbish-barrel by the bedside, to listen and overhear their conversation.

XXX

Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,
A greivèd man was hee;
And soe were all his fellowes with him.
From him they thought never to flee.

XXXI

Then take they did that lodly[181] groome,
And under the rub-chadler[182] closed was hee,
And he was set by King Arthur’s bed-side,
To heere theire talke and theire comunye;

XXXII

That he might come forth, and make proclamation,
Long before it was day;
It was more for King Cornewall’s pleasure,
Then it was for King Arthur’s pay[183].

XXXIII

And when King Arthur in his bed was laid,
These were the words said hee:
‘I’le make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
That I’le be the bane of Cornewall Kinge
Litle Brittaine or ever I see!’

XXXIV

‘It is an unadvised vow,’ saies Gawaine the gay,
‘As ever king hard make I;
But wee that beene five christian men,
Of the christen faith are wee,
And we shall fight against anoynted king
And all his armorie.’

XXXV

And then bespake him noble Arthur,
And these were the words said he:
‘Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,
Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country.’

XXXVI

And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,
And these were the words said hee:
‘Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,
Heere another vow make will I.

XXXVII

‘I’le make mine avow to God,
And alsoe to the Trinity,
That I will have yonder faire lady
To Litle Brittaine with mee.

While they lie talking, an unguarded movement of the sprite in the barrel leads to his discovery. Then follows a great combat.

XXXIX

[O then bespake Sir Tristram,]
These were the words sayd hee:
‘Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,
It is better to be drown’d in the sea.’

XL

And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,
And these were the words said he
‘Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,
God, my governor thou wilt bee!’

XLI

Then bespake him noble Arthur,
And these were the words said he:
‘What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?
I pray thee tell to me.’

XLII

He sayes, ‘Collen brand[184] I’le have in my hand,
And a Millaine[185] knife fast by my knee,
And a Danish axe fast in my hands,
That a sure weapon I thinke will be.’

XLIII

Then with his Collen brand that he had in his hand,
The bunge of that rub-chandler he burst in three;
With that start out a lodly feend,
With seven heads, and one body.

XLIV

The fyer towards the element[186] flew,
Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;
The knight stoode in the middle and fought,
That it was great joy to see.

XLV

Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,
And his Millaine knife burst on his knee,
And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,
That a sure weapon he thought sho’ld be.

XLVI

But now is the knight left without any weapons,
And alacke! it was the more pittye;
But a surer weapon then he had one,
Had neuer lord in Christentye;
And all was but one litle booke,
He found it by the side of the sea.

XLVII

He found it at the sea-side,
Wruckèd upp in a floode;
Our Lord had written it with his hands,
And sealed it with his bloode.

With this book of Evangiles Sir Bredbittle, otherwise the Green Knight, overcomes the sprite, and having conjured him into a wall of stone, returns with report to King Arthur.

XLVIII

[Saies] ‘That thou doe not [stir a foot]
But ly still in that wall of stone,
Till I have beene with noble King Arthur,
And told him what I have done.’

XLIX

And when he came to the king’s chamber,
He co’ld of his curtesie:
Says, ‘Sleepe you, wake you, noble King Arthur?
And ever Jesus waken yee!’

L

‘Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,’
These were the words said hee;
‘Ffor thee I have car’d; how hast thou fared?
O gentle knight, let me see.’

LI

The knight wrought the king his booke,
Bad him behold, reede and see;
And ever he found it on the back of the leafe
As noble Arthur wo’ld wish it to be.

LII

And then bespake him King Arthur,
‘Alas! thow gentle knight, how may this be,
That I might see him in the same licknesse
That he stood unto thee?’

LIII

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said hee:
‘If you’le stand stifly in the battell stronge,
For I have won all the victory.’

LIV

Then bespake him the king againe,
And these were the words said hee:
‘If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong,
Wee are worthy to be hang’d on a tree.’

LV

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said he:
Saies, ‘I doe conjure thee, thou fowle feend,
In the same licknesse thou stood unto me.’

LVI

With that start out a lodly feend,
With seven heads, and one bodỳ;
The fier towards the element flew
Out of his mouth, where was great plentie.

But now with the aid of the book Sir Bredbittle has the fiend wholly at command. He is sent first to fetch the steed.

LIX

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,
And these were the words said he:
Saith, ‘I conjure thee, thou fowle feend,
That thou feitch downe the steed, that we see.’

LX

And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he co’ld hie,
And feitch he did that fairè steed,
And came againe by and by.

LXI

Then bespake him Sir Marramiles,
And these were the words said hee:
‘Ryding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,
The mastery belongs to me.’

LXII

Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,
To ryd him he was full bold;
He co’ld noe more make him goe
Then a child of three yeere old.

LXIII

He laid uppon him with heele and hand,
With yard that was soe fell;
‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,
‘For I thinke he be the devill of hell.

LXIV

‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,
‘Helpe! for Christ’s pittye;
Ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,
He will never be rydden for me.’

LXV

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
These were the words said he:
‘I conjure thee tell, thou Burlow-beanie,
How this steed was riddin in his country.’

LXVI

‘In Cornewall’s window is a gold wand;
Let him strike three strokes on that steed,
And then he will spring forth of his hand
As sparke doth out of gleede[187].’

Then Sir Tristram requires a horn. At Sir Bredbittle’s command the sprite fetches it; but the horn will not sound until anointed with a certain powder. This also the sprite is sent to fetch.

LXX

And then bespake Sir Bredebeddle,
To the ffeend these words said hee:
Says, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,
The powder-box thou feitch me.’

LXXI

Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he co’ld hie,
And feich he did the powder-box,
And came againe by and by.

LXXII

Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,
And blent it with warme sweet milke,
And there put it unto that horne,
And swill’d it about in that ilke.

LXXIII

Then he tooke the horne into his hand,
And a lowd blast he blew;
He rent the horne up to the midst,
All his ffellowes this they knew.

LXXIV

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,
These were the words said he:
Saies, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,
That thou feitch me the sword, that I see.’

LXXV

Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,
As fast as he co’ld hie,
And feitch he did that fairè sword,
And came againe by and by.

LXXVI

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,
To the king these words said he:
‘Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur,
For thy vowes sake I’le give it thee,
And goe strike off King Cornewall’s head,
In bed where he doth lye.’

LXXVII

Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,
As fast as he co’ld hye,
And strucken he hath off King Cornewall’s head,
And came againe by and by.

So King Arthur fulfils his vow; and, if the rest of the Ballad had been preserved, no doubt it would have told us how his companions fulfilled theirs.

FOOTNOTES:

[177] rived = arrived, travelled.

[178] tranckled = travelled.

[179] ghesting = guesting, lodging.

[180] gleed = live coal.

[181] lodly = loathly.

[182] rub-chadler = rubbish-tub.

[183] pay = satisfaction.

[184] Collen brand = sword of Cologne steel.

[185] Millaine = Milanese.

[186] element = sky.

[187] gleede = live coal.

_19. The Marriage of Sir Gawain_

[_A Fragment_]

I

Kinge Arthur lives in merry Carleile,
And seemely is to see,
And there he hath with him Queene Genever,
That bride soe bright of blee[188].

II

And there he hath with him Queene Genever,
That bride soe bright in bower,
And all his barons about him stoode,
That were both stiffe and stowre[189].

III

The king kept a royall Christmasse,
Of mirth and great honor.

Soon after Christmas the King chanced to ride by Tarn Wadling[190], in the forest of Inglewood, when he was met by a fierce baron armed with a club, who offered him choice between fighting and ransom. For ransom, the King must return on New Year’s Day--

IV

‘And bring me word what thing it is
That a woman will most desire;
This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,’ he sayes,
‘For I’le have noe other hier.’

V

King Arthur then held up his hand,
According thene as was the law;
He tooke his leave of the baron there,
And homward can he draw.

VI

And when he came to merry Carleile,
To his chamber he is gone,
And ther came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine,
As he did make his mone.

VII

And there came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine,
That was a curteous knight;
‘Why sigh you soe sore, unckle Arthur,’ he said,
‘Or who hath done thee unright?’--

VIII

‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,
That faire may thee beffall!
For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
Thou wo’ld not mervaile att all.

IX

‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,
A bold barron there I fand,
With a great club upon his backe,
Standing stiffe and strong.

X

‘And he asked me wether I wo’ld fight
Or from him I shold begone,
Or else I must him a ransome pay,
And soe depart him from.

XI

‘To fight with him I saw noe cause;
Methought it was not meet;
For he was stiffe and strong with-all,
His strokes were nothing sweete.

XII

‘Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,
I ought to him to pay;
I must come againe, as I am sworne,
Upon the New Yeer’s day;

XIII

‘And I must bring him word what thing it is
[That a woman will most desire].

Arthur, having collected and written down many answers to the baron’s riddle, was true to his promise, thus--

XIV

Then king Arthur drest him for to ryde,
In one soe rich array,
Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling,
That he might keepe his day.

XV

And as he rode over a more,
Hee see a lady where shee sate
Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen[191];
She was cladd in red scarlett.

XVI

Then thereas shold have stood her mouth,
Then there was sett her eye;
The other was in her forhead fast,
The way that she might see.

XVII

Her nose was crooked and turn’d outward,
Her mouth stood foule a-wry;
A worse form’d lady than shee was,
Never man saw with his eye.

XVIII

To halch upon[192] him, King Arthur,
This lady was full faine,
But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,
What he sho’ld say againe.

XIX

‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd,
‘That will not speak to me?
Of me be thou nothing dismay’d,
Tho I be ugly to see.

XX

‘For I have halched you curteouslye,
And you will not me againe;
Yett I may happen Sir Knight,’ shee said,
‘To ease thee of thy paine.’

XXI

‘Give thou ease me, lady,’ he said,
‘Or helpe me any thing,
Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,
And marry him with a ring.’

The hag thereupon gave him the right answer and he rode forward.

XXIII

And when he came to the Tearne Wadling,
The baron there co’ld he finde,
With a great weapon on his backe,
Standing stiffe and stronge.

XXIV

And then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands,
And away he co’ld them fling,
And then he puld out a good browne sword,
And cryd himselfe a king.

XXV

And he sayd, ‘I have thee and thy land, Arthur,
To doe as it pleaseth me,
For this is not thy ransome sure,
Therfore yeeld thee to me.’

XXVI

And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
And bad him hold his hand:
‘And give me leave to speake my mind
In defence of all my land.’

XXVII

He said, ‘As I came over a more,
I see a lady where shee sate
Betweene an oke and a green hollen;
Shee was clad in red scarlett.

XXVIII

‘And she says a woman will have her will,
And this is all her cheef desire:
Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill[193],
This is thy ransome and all thy hyer.’

XXIX

He sayes, ‘An early vengeance light on her!
She walkes on yonder more;
It was my sister that told thee this,
[As shee heard it of me before.]

XXX

‘But heer I’le make mine avow to God
To doe her an evill turne;
For an’ ever I may thate fowle theefe get,
In a fyer I will her burne.’

The King, having returned home, told his knights that he had in the forest a bride for one of them, and a number rode out in his company to find her.

XXXI

Sir Lancelott and Sir Steven bold,
They rode with them that day,
And the formost of the company
There rode the steward Kay.

XXXII

Soe did Sir Banier and Sir Bore,
Sir Garrett with them soe gay,
Soe did Sir Tristeram that gentle knight,
To the forrest fresh and gay.

XXXIII

And when he came to the greene forrest,
Underneath a greene holly tree,
Their sate that lady in red scarlet
That unseemly was to see.

XXXIV

Sir Kay beheld this lady’s face,
And looked uppon her swire[194];
‘Whosoever kisses this lady,’ he sayes,
‘Of his kisse he stands in feare.’

XXXV

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
And looked upon her snout;
‘Whosoever kisses this lady,’ he saies,
‘Of his kisse he stands in doubt.’

XXXVI

‘Peace, cozen Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,
‘Amend thee of thy life;
For there is a knight amongst us all
That must marry her to his wife.’

XXXVII

‘What! wedd her to wiffe!’ then said Sir Kay,
‘In the divell’s name anon!
Gett me a wiffe where-ere I may,
For I had rather be slaine!’

XXXVIII

Then some tooke up their hawkes in hast.
And some tooke up their hounds,
And some sware they wo’ld not marry her
For citty nor for towne.

XXXIX

And then be-spake him noble King Arthur,
And sware there by this day,
For a litle foule sight and misliking
[They should not say her Nay].

At length Sir Gawain, for Arthur’s sake, consented. The ugly bride was taken home and bedded, when to Gawain’s delight in his arms she turned to a beautiful woman. She then offered him a choice.--

XL

Then shee said, ‘Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,
Truth as I doe say,
Wether thou wilt have me in this liknesse
In the night or else in the day.’

XLI

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,
Was one soe mild of moode,
Sayes, ‘Well I know what I wo’ld say,
God grant it may be good!

XLII

‘To have thee fowle in the night
When I with thee sho’ld play--
Yet I had rather, if I might,
Have thee fowle in the day.’

XLIII

‘What! when lords goe with ther feires[195],’ shee said,
‘Both to the ale and wine,
Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,
I must not goe withinne.’

XLIV

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,
Said, ‘Lady, that’s but skill;
And because thou art my owne lady,
Thou shall have all thy will.’

XLV

Then she said, ‘Blesed be thou, gentle Gawain,
This day that I thee see!
For as thou seest me att this time,
From hencforth I wilbe.

XLVI

‘My father was an old knight,
And yett it chancèd soe
That he marryed a younge lady
That brought me to this woe.

XLVII

‘Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,
To the greene forrest to dwell,
And there I must walke in woman’s liknesse,
Most like a feend of hell.

XLVIII

‘She witched my brother to a carlish [boore]

Being thus given what a woman most desires (that is, her will) she is released from the spell and becomes beautiful at all times: and Sir Gawain leads his lady in triumph among the knights, to present her to the King and Queen.

L

‘Come kisse her, brother Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,
‘And amend thé of thy liffe;
I sweare this is the same lady
That I marryed to my wiffe.’

LI

Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,
Standing upon his ffeete;
He swore, as he was trew knight,
The spice was never soe sweete.

LII

‘Well, cozen Gawaine,’ sayes Sir Kay,
‘Thy chance is fallen arright,
For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids
I ever saw with my sight.’--

LIII

‘It is my fortune,’ said Sir Gawaine;
‘For my unckle Arthurs sake
I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,
Great joy that I may take.’

LIV

Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,
Sir Kay tooke her by the tother,
They led her straight to King Arthur,
As they were brother and brother.

LV

King Arthur welcomed them there all,
And soe did Lady Genever his queene,
With all the knights of the Round Table,
Most seemly to be seene.

LVI

King Arthur beheld that lady faire
That was soe faire and bright,
He thanked Christ in Trinity
For Sir Gawaine that gentle knight.

LVII

Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,
Rejoyced all that day
For the good chance that hapened was
To Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.

FOOTNOTES:

[188] blee = hue, complexion.

[189] stowre = strong or perhaps we should read ‘stiff in stowre’ = sturdy in fight.

[190] Tarn Wadling = The place--near Hesketh in Cumberland, on the road from Carlisle to Penrith--keeps its name to this day. But the tarn has been drained and its site is now a pasture for sheep.

[191] hollen = holly-tree.

[192] halch upon = salute.

[193] sckill = wit, judgement.

[194] swire = neck.

[195] feires = mates.

_20. Bonnie Annie_

I

There was a rich lord, and he lived in Forfar,
He had a fair lady and one only dochter.

II

O she was fair! O dear, she was bonnie!
A ship’s captain courted her to be his honey.

III

‘Ye’ll steal your father’s gowd, and your mother’s money,
And I’ll make ye a lady in Ireland bonnie.’

IV

She’s stown her father’s gowd, and her mother’s money,
But she was never a lady in Ireland bonnie.

V

They hadna sail’d far till the young thing cried ‘Woman!’
‘What can a woman do, love, I will do for ye.

VI

‘Lay about, steer about, lay our ship cannie[196],
Do all ye can to save my dear Annie.’

VII

‘There’s fey[197] folk in our ship, she winna sail for me,
There’s fey folk in our ship, she winna sail [ony].’

VIII

They’ve castin’ black bullets twice six and forty,
And ae the black bullet fell on bonnie Annie.

IX

‘Ye’ll tak me in your arms twa, lo, lift me cannie,
Throw me out owre-board, your ain dear Annie.’

X

He has ta’en her in his arms twa, lo, lifted her cannie,
He has laid her on a bed of down, his ain dear Annie.

XI

‘What can a woman do, love, I’ll do for ye:’
‘Muckle can a woman do, ye canna do for me.’

XII

‘Lay about, steer about, lay our ship cannie,
Do all ye can to save my dear Annie.’

XIII

‘I’ve laid about, steer’d about, laid about cannie,
Our ship’s on a sand-bank, she winna sail [ony]--

XIV

‘Ye’ll take her in your arms twa, lo, lift her cannie,
And throw her out owre-board, your ain dear Annie.’

XV

He has ta’en her in his arms twa, lo, lifted her cannie,
He has thrown her out owre-board, his ain dear Annie.

XVI

[The corse it did float, the ship it did follow]
Until that they came to the high banks o’ Yarrow[198].

XVII

‘O I’d bury my love on the high banks o’ Yarrow,
But the wood it is dear, and the planks they are narrow.’

XVIII

He made his love a coffin o’ the gowd sae yellow,
And buried his bonnie love doun in a sea valley.

FOOTNOTES:

[196] cannie = gently.

[197] fey = destined to die.

[198] Yarrow =? Jarrow.

_21. Brown Robyn’s Confession_

I

It fell upon a Wadensday
Brown Robyn’s men went to sea;
But they saw neither moon nor sun
Nor starlight wi’ their e’e.

II

‘We’ll cast kevels[199] us amang;
See wha the man may be.’--
The kevel fell on Brown Robyn,
The master-man was he.

III

‘It is nae wonder,’ said Brown Robyn,
‘Altho’ I dinna thrive;
[For at hame I murder’d my ain father--
I would he were on live.]

IV

‘But tie me to a plank o’ wude,
And throw me in the sea;
And if I sink, ye may bid me sink,
But if I swim, let be.’

V

They’ve tied him to a plank o’ wude
And thrown him in the sea;
He didna sink, tho’ they bade him sink,
He swim’d, and they bade let be.

VI

He hadna been into the sea
An hour but barely three,
Till by it came Our Blessed Ladie
Her dear young son her wi’.

VII

‘Will ye gang to your men again,
Or will ye gang wi’ me?
Will ye gang to the high heavens
Wi’ my dear son and me?’--

VIII

‘I winna gang to my men again,
For they would be fear’d at me;
But I would gang to the high heavens,
Wi’ thy dear son and thee.’

IX

‘It’s for nae honour ye did, Brown Robyn,
It’s for nae gude ye did to me;
But a’ is for your fair confession
You’ve made upon the sea.’

FOOTNOTES:

[199] kevels = lots.

_22. The Cruel Mother_

I

She lean’d her back unto a thorn;
_Fine flowers in the valley_
And there she has her two babes born,
_And the green leaves they grow rarely._

II

She’s ta’en the ribbon frae her hair,
And bound their bodies fast and sair.

III

‘Smile na sae sweet, my bonny babes,
An’ ye smile sae sweet, ye’ll smile me dead.

IV

‘And, O bonny babes, if ye suck sair,
Ye’ll never suck by my side mair.’

V

She’s ta’en out her little penknife
And twinn’d[200] the sweet babes o’ their life.

VI

She’s howket a grave baith deep and wide,
And there she’s buried them side by side.

VII

She’s buried them baith beneath the brier,
And washed her hands wi’ mony a tear.

VIII

‘O ay, my God, as I look to thee,
My babes be atween my God and me!

IX

‘And ay their smiles wad win me in,
But I am borne down by deadly sin.’

X

She’s cover’d them o’er wi’ a marble stane,
Thinking she wad gang maiden hame.

XI

She lookit out owre her castle wa’
And saw twa naked boys play at the ba’.

XII

‘O bonny boys, gin ye were mine
I wad cleed[201] you in silk and sabelline[202].

XIII

‘O I would dress you in the silk,
And wash you ay in morning milk.’--

XIV

‘O mother dear, when we were thine,
You didna prove to us sae kind.

XV

‘O cruel mother, we were thine
And thou made us to wear the twine[203].

XVI

‘But now we’re in the heavens hie,
_Fine flowers in the valley_
And ye have the pains o’ hell to drie’--
_And the green leaves they grow rarely;_
_Ten thousand times good night and be wi’ thee!_

FOOTNOTES:

[200] twinn’d = robbed, deprived.

[201] cleed = clothe.

[202] sabelline = sable.

[203] twine = twine-cloth, shroud.

_23. Binnorie_

I

There were twa sisters sat in a bour;
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
There cam a knight to be their wooer,
_By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie._

II

He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing.

III

The eldest she was vexèd sair,
And sair envìed her sister fair.

IV

Upon a morning fair and clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:

V

‘O sister, sister, tak my hand,
And we’ll see our father’s ships to land.’

VI

She’s ta’en her by the lily hand,
And led her down to the river-strand.

VII

The youngest stood upon a stane,
The eldest cam and push’d her in.

VIII

‘O sister, sister, reach your hand!
And ye sall be heir o’ half my land:

IX

‘O sister, reach me but your glove!
And sweet William sall be your love.’--

X

‘Foul fa’ the hand that I should take;
It twin’d[204] me o’ my warldis make[205].

XI

‘Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair
Gar’d me gang maiden evermair.’

XII

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,
Until she cam to the miller’s dam.

XIII

Out then cam the miller’s son,
And saw the fair maid soummin’[206] in.

XIV

‘O father, father, draw your dam!
There’s either a mermaid or a milk-white swan.’

XV

The miller hasted and drew his dam,
And there he found a drown’d woman.

XVI

You couldna see her middle sma’,
Her gowden girdle was sae braw.

XVII

You couldna see her lily feet,
Her gowden fringes were sae deep.

XVIII

You couldna see her yellow hair
For the strings o’ pearls was twisted there.

XIX

You couldna see her fingers sma’,
Wi’ diamond rings they were cover’d a’.

XX

And by there cam a harper fine,
That harpit to the king at dine.

XXI

And when he look’d that lady on,
He sigh’d and made a heavy moan.

XXII

He’s made a harp of her breast-bane,
Whose sound wad melt a heart of stane.

XXIII

He’s ta’en three locks o’ her yellow hair,
And wi’ them strung his harp sae rare.

XXIV

He went into her father’s hall,
And there was the court assembled all.

XXV

He laid his harp upon a stane,
And straight it began to play by lane[207].

XXVI

‘O yonder sits my father, the King,
And yonder sits my mother, the Queen;

XXVII

‘And yonder stands my brother Hugh,
And by him my William, sweet and true.’

XXVIII

But the last tune that the harp play’d then--
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
Was, ‘Woe to my sister, false Helèn!’
_By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie_.

FOOTNOTES:

[204] twin’d = robbed, deprived.

[205] my warldis make = my one mate in the world.

[206] soummin’ = swimming.