Chapter XIX: Book III: 69. The Nut-Brown Maid (3)

‘But had I kenn’d ere I cam’ frae hame,
How thou unkind wadst been to me!
I wad have keepit the Border side,
In spite of all thy force and thee.

XXIV

‘Wist England’s King that I was ta’en,
O gin a blythe man he wad be!
For anes I slew his sister’s son,
And on his breist bane brak a trie.’

XXV

John wore a girdle about his middle,
Imbroider’d owre wi’ burning gold,
Bespangled wi’ the same metal,
Maist beautiful was to behold.

XXVI

There hung nine targats[552] at Johnie’s hat,
And ilk ane worth three hundred pound--
‘What wants that knave that a King suld have,
But the sword of honour and the crown?’

XXVII

‘O where got thou these targats, Johnie,
That blink sae brawlie[553] abune thy brie[554]?’--
‘I gat them in the field fechting,
Where, cruel King, thou durst not be.

XXVIII

‘Had I my horse, and harness gude,
And riding as I wont to be,
It suld have been tauld this hundred yeir,
The meeting of my King and me!

XXIX

‘God be with thee, Kirsty, my brother,
Lang live thou Laird of Mangertoun!
Lang mayst thou live on the Border syde,
Ere thou see thy brother ride up and doun!

XXX

‘And God be with thee, Kirsty, my son,
Where thou sits on thy nurse’s knee!
But an thou live this hundred yeir,
Thy father’s better thou’lt never be.

XXXI

‘Farewell! my bonny Gilnock hall,
Where on Esk side thou standest stout!
Gif I had lived but seven yeirs mair,
I wad hae gilt thee round about.’

XXXII

John murder’d was at Carlinrigg,
And all his gallant companie;
But Scotland’s heart was ne’er sae wae,
To see sae mony brave men die--

XXXIII

Because they saved their country deir
Frae Englishmen! Nane were sa bauld,
Whyle Johnie lived on the Border syde,
Nane of them durst cum neir his hauld.

FOOTNOTES:

[545] kinnen = rabbits.

[546] nicker = neigh.

[547] gilt = gold.

[548] dow = are able to.

[549] ganging = going.

[550] happers = mill-hoppers.

[551] skaith’d = hurt, wronged.

[552] targats = round ornaments.

[553] blink sae brawlie = glance so bravely.

[554] brie = brow.

_90. Clyde Water_

I

Willie stands in his stable door,
And clapping at his steed,
And over his white fingers
His nose began to bleed.

II

‘Gie corn unto my horse, mither,
Gie meat unto my man;
For I maun gang to Margaret’s bour
Before the nicht comes on.’--

III

‘O bide at hame this nicht, Willie,
This ae bare nicht wi’ me:
The bestan bed in a’ my house
Sall be well made to thee.

IV

‘O bide at hame this nicht, Willie,
This ae bare nicht wi’ me:
The bestan bird in a’ the roost
At your supper, son, sall be.’--

V

‘A’ your beds and a’ your roosts
I value not a pin;
But I sall gae to my love’s gates
This nicht, gif I can win.’--

VI

‘O stay at home, my son Willie,
The wind blaws cauld an’ sour;
The nicht will be baith mirk and late
Before ye reach her bour.’--

VII

‘O though the nicht were ever sae dark,
Or the wind blew never sae cauld,
I will be in my Margaret’s bour
Before twa hours be tald.’--

VIII

‘O an ye gang to Margaret’s bour
Sae sair against my will,
I’ the deepest pot o’ Clyde’s water
My malison[555] ye’se feel.’

IX

As he rade owre yon high high hill,
And doun yon dowie[556] den,
The roaring that was in Clyde’s water
Wad fley’d[557] five hundred men.

X

His heart was warm, his pride was up,
Sweet Willie kentna fear;
But yet his mither’s malison
Aye soundit in his ear.

XI

‘O spare, O spare me, Clyde’s water:
Your stream rins wondrous strang:
Mak’ me your wrack as I come back,
But spare me as I gang!’

XII

Then he rade in, and further in,
And he swam to an’ fro,
Until he’s grippit a hazel bush
That brung him to the brow.

XIII

Then he is on to Margaret’s bour,
And tirlèd at the pin;
But doors were steek’d and windows barr’d,
And nane wad let him in.

XIV

‘O open the door to me, Marg’ret!
O open and let me in!
For my boots are fu’ o’ Clyde’s water
And the rain rins owre my chin.’--

XV

‘I darena open the door to you,
Nor darena let you in;
For my mither she is fast asleep,
And I maun mak’ nae din.’--

XVI

‘O hae ye ne’er a stable?’ he says,
‘Or hae ye ne’er a barn?
Or hae ye ne’er a wild-goose house
Where I might rest till morn?’--

XVII

‘My barn it is fu’ o’ corn,’ she says,
‘My stable is fu’ o’ hay;
My house is fu’ o’ merry young men;
They winna remove till day.’--

XVIII

‘O fare ye weel then, May Marg’ret,
Sin’ better may na be!
I’ve gotten my mither’s malison
This nicht, coming to thee.’

XIX

He’s mounted on his coal-black steed,
--O but his heart was wae!
But ere he came to Clyde’s water
’Twas half up owre the brae.

XX

‘An hey, Willie! an hoa, Willie!
Winna ye turn agen?’
But aye the louder that she cried
He rade agenst the win’.

XXI

As he rade owre yon high high hill,
And doun yon dowie den,
The roaring that was in Clyde’s water
Wad fley’d a thousand men.

XXII

Then he rade in, and farther in,
Till he cam’ to the chine;
The rushing that was in Clyde’s water
Took Willie’s riding-cane.

XXIII

He lean’d him owre his saddle-bow
To catch the rod by force;
The rushing that was in Clyde’s water
Took Willie frae his horse.

XXIV

‘O how can I turn my horse’s head?
How can I learn to sowm[558]?
I’ve gotten my mither’s malison,
And it’s here that I maun drown!’

XXV

O he swam high, and he swam low,
And he swam to and fro,
But he couldna spy the hazel-bush
Wad bring him to the brow.

XXVI

He’s sunk and he never rase agen
Into the pot sae deep ...
And up it waken’d May Margaret
Out o’ her drowsie sleep.

XXVII

‘Come hither, come here, my mither dear,
Read me this dreary dream;
I dream’d my Willie was at our gates,
And nane wad let him in.’--

XXVIII

‘Lie still, lie still now, my Meggie:
Lie still and tak’ your rest;
Sin’ your true-love was at your gates
It’s but twa quarters past.’--

XXIX

Nimbly, nimbly rase she up,
And nimbly put she on;
And the higher that the lady cried,
The louder blew the win’.

XXX

The firstan step that she stept in,
She steppit to the queet[559]:
‘Ohon, alas!’ said that lady,
‘This water’s wondrous deep.’

XXXI

The neistan step that she stept in,
She waded to the knee;
Says she, ‘I cou’d wade farther in,
If I my love cou’d see.’

XXXII

The neistan step that she wade in,
She waded to the chin;
The deepest pot in Clyde’s water
She got sweet Willie in.

XXXIII

‘Ye’ve had a cruel mither, Willie!
And I have had anither;
But we sall sleep in Clyde’s water
Like sister an’ like brither.’

FOOTNOTES:

[555] malison = curse.

[556] dowie = dismal, gloomy.

[557] fley’d = frightened.

[558] sowm = swim.

[559] queet = ankle.

_91. Young Benjie_

I

Of a’ the maids o’ fair Scotland,
The fairest was Marjorie;
And young Benjie was her ae true love,
And a dear true-love was he.

II

And wow! but they were lovers dear,
And loved fu’ constantlie;
But ay the mair when they fell out,
The sairer was their plea[560].

III

And they hae quarrell’d on a day,
Till Marjorie’s heart grew wae,
And she said she’d chuse another luve,
And let young Benjie gae.

IV

And he was stout, and proud-heartèd,
And thought o’t bitterlie,
And he’s gaen by the wan moon-light,
To meet his Marjorie.

V

‘O open, open, my true love!
O open, and let me in!’--
‘I dare na open, young Benjie,
My three brothers are within.’--

VI

‘Ye lied, ye lied, my bonny burd,
Sae loud’s I hear ye lie;
As I came by the Lowden banks,
They bade gude e’en to me.

VII

‘But fare ye weel, my ae fause love,
That I hae loved sae lang!
It sets[561] ye chuse another love,
And let young Benjie gang.’

VIII

Then Marjorie turned her round about,
The tear blinding her e’e,
‘I darena, darena let thee in,
But I’ll come down to thee.’

IX

Then saft she smiled, and said to him,
‘O what ill hae I done?’
He took her in his armis twa,
And threw her o’er the linn[562].

X

The stream was strang, the maid was stout,
And laith laith to be dang[563];
But, ere she wan the Lowden banks,
Her fair colour was wan.

XI

Then up bespak her eldest brother,
‘O see na ye what I see?’
And out then spak her second brother,
‘It’s our sister Marjorie!’

XII

Out then spak her eldest brother,
‘O how shall we her ken?’
And out then spak her youngest brother,
‘There’s a honey mark on her chin.’

XIII

Then they’ve ta’en up the comely corpse,
And laid it on the grund:
‘O wha has killed our ae sister,
And how can he be found?

XIV

‘The night it is her low lykewake[564],
The morn her burial day,
And we maun watch at mirk midnight,
And hear what she will say.’

XV

Wi’ doors ajar, and candle-light,
And torches burning clear,
The streikit[565] corpse, till still midnight,
They waked, but naething hear.

XVI

About the middle o’ the night,
The cocks began to craw,
And at the dead hour o’ the night,
The corpse began to thraw[566].

XVII

‘O wha has done the wrang, sister,
Or dared the deadly sin?
Wha was sae stout, and feared nae dout,
As thraw ye o’er the linn?’--

XVIII

‘Young Benjie was the first ae man,
I laid my love upon;
He was sae stout and proud-heartèd,
He threw me o’er the linn.’--

XIX

‘Sall we young Benjie head, sister,
Sall we young Benjie hang,
Or sall we pike out his twa gray e’en,
And punish him ere he gang?’--

XX

‘Ye mauna Benjie head, brothers,
Ye mauna Benjie hang,
But ye maun pike out his twa gray e’en,
And punish him ere he gang.

XXI

‘Tie a green gravat[567] round his neck,
And lead him out and in,
And the best ae servant about your house,
To wait young Benjie on.

XXII

‘And ay, at every seven years’ end,
Ye’ll tak him to the linn;
For that’s the penance he maun drie[568],
To scug[569] his deadly sin.’

FOOTNOTES:

[560] plea = quarrel.

[561] sets = befits.

[562] linn = stream.

[563] dang = overcome.

[564] lykewake = corpse-watching.

[565] streikit = stretched out.

[566] thraw = twist, writhe.

[567] gravat = cravat, collar.

[568] drie = endure.

[569] scug = screen, expiate.

_92. Annan Water_

I

Annan water’s wading deep,
And my love Annie’s wondrous bonny;
And I am laith she suld weet her feet,
Because I love her best of ony.

II

‘Gar saddle me the bonny black,
Gar saddle sune, and make him ready;
For I will down the Gatehope-Slack,
And all to see my bonny ladye.’

III

He has loupen on the bonny black,
He stirr’d him wi’ the spur right sairly;
But, or he wan the Gatehope-Slack,
I think the steed was wae and weary.

IV

He has loupen on the bonny grey,
He rade the right gate[570] and the ready;
I trow he would neither stint nor stay,
For he was seeking his bonny ladye.

V

O he has ridden o’er field and fell,
Through muir and moss, and mony a mire:
His spurs o’ steel were sair to bide,
And frae her fore-feet flew the fire.

VI

‘Now, bonny grey, now play your part!
Gin ye be the steed that wins my deary,
Wi’ corn and hay ye’se be fed for aye,
And never spur sall make you wearie.’

VII

The grey was a mare, and a right good mare;
But when she wan the Annan water,
She couldna hae ridden a furlong mair,
Had a thousand merks been wadded[571] at her.

VIII

‘O boatman, boatman, put off your boat!
Put off your boat for gowden money!
I cross the drumly[572] stream the night,
Or never mair I see my honey.’--

IX

‘O I was sworn sae late yestreen,
And not by ae aith, but by many;
And for a’ the gowd in fair Scotland,
I dare na take ye through to Annie.’--

X

The side was stey[573], and the bottom deep,
Frae bank to brae the water pouring;
And the bonny grey mare did sweat for fear,
For she heard the water-kelpy[574] roaring.

XI

O he has pu’d aff his dapperpy[575] coat,
The silver buttons glancèd bonny;
The waistcoat bursted aff his breast,
He was sae full of melancholy.

XII

He has ta’en the ford at that stream tail;
I wot he swam both strong and steady,
But the stream was broad, and his strength did fail,
And he never saw his bonny ladye!

XIII

O wae betide the frush[576] saugh[577] wand!
And wae betide the bush of brier!
It brake into my true love’s hand,
When his strength did fail, and his limbs did tire.

XIV

‘And wae betide ye, Annan Water,
This night that ye are a drumlie river!
For over thee I’ll build a bridge,
That ye never more true love may sever.’--

FOOTNOTES:

[570] gate = way.

[571] wadded = wagered.

[572] drumly = turbid.

[573] stey = steep.

[574] water-kelpy = water-sprite.

[575] dapperpy = diapered.

[576] frush = brittle.

[577] saugh = willow.

_93. Rare Willy drowned in Yarrow_

I

‘Willy’s rare, and Willy’s fair,
And Willy’s wondrous bonny;
And Willy heght[578] to marry me,
Gin e’er he marryd ony.

II

‘Yestreen I made my bed fu’ braid,
The night I’ll make it narrow,
For a’ the live-long winter’s night
I lie twin’d[579] of my marrow[580].

III

‘O came you by yon water-side?
Pu’d you the rose or lilly?
Or came you by yon meadow green?
Or saw you my sweet Willy?’

IV

She sought him east, she sought him west,
She sought him braid and narrow;
Sine, in the clifting[581] of a craig,
She found him drown’d in Yarrow.

FOOTNOTES:

[578] heght = promised.

[579] twin’d = deprived.

[580] marrow = mate.

[581] clifting = cleft.

_94. The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter_

I

The Duke of Gordon had three daughters,
Elizabeth, Marg’ret and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle Gordon,
But they went to bonny Aberdeen.

II

They had not been in bonny Aberdeen
A twelvemonth and a day,
Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie
And awa’ with him she would gae.

III

Word came to the Duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean was in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And from him she would not stay.

IV

‘Go saddle to me the black horse,
And you’ll ride on the grey,
And I will gang to bonny Aberdeen
Forthwith to bring her away.’

V

They were not a mile from Aberdeen,
A mile but only one,
Till he met with his two daughters,
But awa’ was Lady Jean.

VI

‘Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister now?
Say, what is become of your sister,
That she is not walking with you?’

VII

‘O pardon us, honour’d father,
O pardon us!’ they did say;
‘Lady Jean is wed with Captain Ogilvie,
And from him she will not stay.’

VIII

[Then an angry man the Duke rade on]
Till he came to bonny Aberdeen,
And there did he see brave Captain Ogilvie
A-training of his men on the green.

IX

‘O woe be to thee, thou Captain Ogilvie!
And an ill death thou shalt dee.
For taking to thee my daughter Jean
High hangit shalt thou be.’

X

The Duke has written a broad letter,
To the King [with his own han’;]
It was to hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hang’d a man.

XI

‘I will not hang Captain Ogilvie
For no lord that I see;
But I’ll gar him put off the broad scarlèt,
And put on the single liver[582]ỳ.’

XII

Now word came to Captain Ogilvie,
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single liverỳ.

XIII

‘If this be for bonny Jeanie Gordon,
This penance I can take wi’;
If this be for dear Jeanie Gordon,
All this and mair will I dree[583].’

XIV

Lady Jeanie had not been married
A year but only three,
Till she had a babe upon every arm
And another upon her knee.

XV

‘O but I’m weary of wand’rin’!
O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon’s daughter
To follow a soldier lad.

XVI

‘O but I’m weary, weary wand’rin’!
O but I think it lang!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon’s daughter
To follow a single man.

XVII

‘O hold thy tongue, Jeanie Gordon,
O hold thy tongue, my lamb!
For once I was a noble captain,
Now for thy sake a single man.’

XVIII

But when they came to the Highland hills,
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean’s shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.

XIX

‘Now woe to the hills and the mountains!
Woe to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sair wi’ going barefoot:
No farther can I gang.

XX

‘O were I in the glens o’ Foudlen,
Where hunting I have been,
I would go to bonny Castle Gordon,
There I’d get hose and sheen[584]!’

XXI

When they came to bonny Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
The porter out with loud loud shout,
‘O here comes our Lady Jean!’--

XXII

‘You are welcome, bonny Jeanie Gordon,
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeanie Gordon,
But awa’ with your Ogilvie!’

XXIII

Over-seas now went the Captain,
As a soldier under command;
But a message soon follow’d after,
To come home for to heir his land.

XXIV

‘O what does this mean?’ says the Captain;
‘Where’s my brother’s children three?’--
‘They are a’ o’ them dead and buried:
Come home, pretty Captain Ogilvie!’

XXV

‘Then hoist up your sail,’ says the Captain,
‘And we’ll hie back owre the sea;
And I’ll gae to bonny Castle Gordon,
There my dear Jeanie to see.’

XXVI

He came to bonny Castle Gordon,
And upon the green stood he:
The porter out with a loud loud shout,
‘Here comes our Captain Ogilvie!’--

XXVII

‘You’re welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune’s advanced, I hear;
No stranger can come to my castle
That I do love so dear.’--

XXVIII

‘Put up your hat, Duke of Gordon;
Let it fa’ not from your head.
It never set the noble Duke of Gordon
To bow to a single soldier lad.

XXIX

‘Sir, the last time I was at your Castle,
You would not let me in;
Now I’m come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.’

XXX

Down the stair Lady Jean came tripping,
With the saut tear in her e’e;
She had a babe in every arm,
And another at her knee.

XXXI

The Captain took her straight in his arms,
--O a happy man was he!--
Saying, ‘Welcome, bonny Jeanie Gordon,
My Countess o’ Cumberland to be!’

FOOTNOTES:

[582] single livery = private’s uniform.

[583] dree = endure.

[584] sheen = shoes.

_95. The Bonny Earl of Murray_

I

Ye Highlands and ye Lawlands,
O where hae ye been?
They hae slain the Earl of Murray,
And hae laid him on the green.

II

Now wae be to thee, Huntley!
And whairfore did ye sae!
I bade you bring him wi’ you,
But forbade you him to slay.

III

He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
O he might hae been a king!

IV

He was a braw gallant,
And he play’d at the ba’;
And the bonny Earl of Murray
Was the flower amang them a’!

V

He was a braw gallant,
And he play’d at the gluve;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
O he was the Queen’s luve!

VI

O lang will his Lady
Look owre the Castle Downe,
Ere she see the Earl of Murray
Come sounding through the town!

_96. Bonny George Campbell_

I

Hie upon Hielands,
And laigh[585] upon Tay,
Bonny George Campbell
Rade out on a day:
Saddled and bridled,
Sae gallant to see,
Hame cam’ his gude horse,
But never cam’ he.

II

Down ran his auld mither,
Greetin[586]’ fu’ sair;
Out ran his bonny bride,
Reaving[587] her hair;
‘My meadow lies green,
And my corn is unshorn,
My barn is to bigg[588],
And my babe is unborn.’

III

Saddled and bridled
And booted rade he;
A plume in his helmet,
A sword at his knee;
But toom[589] cam’ his saddle
A’ bluidy to see,
O hame cam’ his gude horse,
But never cam’ he!

FOOTNOTES:

[585] laigh = low.

[586] greeting = crying, lamenting.

[587] Reaving = tearing.

[588] bigg = build.

[589] toom = empty.