Chapter XXVIII: Book VI: 126. Durham Field (4)

‘But if thou take another lord,
Ere I come ower the sea,
His life is but a three days’ lease,
Though I may not stay wi’ thee.’

XV

The wind was fair, the ship was clear,
That good lord went away;
And most part of his friends were there,
To give him a fair convey.

XVI

They drank the wine, they didna spare
Even in that gude lord’s sight--
Sae now he’s o’er the floods sae gray,
And Lord Maxwell has ta’en his Goodnight.

FOOTNOTES:

[1286] my father’s deid = the death of my father.

[1287] twined = parted.

[1288] bangisters = lawless folk.

_152. Helen of Kirconnell_

I

I wish I were where Helen lies,
Night and day on me she cries;
O that I were where Helen lies,
On fair Kirconnell lea!

II

Curst be the heart that thought the thought,
And curst the hand that fired the shot,
When in my arms burd Helen dropt,
And died to succour me!

III

O think na ye my heart was sair,
When my Love dropp’d and spak nae mair!
There did she swoon wi’ meikle care,
On fair Kirconnell lea.

IV

As I went down the water side,
None but my foe to be my guide,
None but my foe to be my guide,
On fair Kirconnell lea;

V

I lighted down my sword to draw,
I hackèd him in pieces sma’,
I hackèd him in pieces sma’,
For her sake that died for me.

VI

O Helen fair, beyond compare!
I’ll mak a garland o’ thy hair,
Shall bind my heart for evermair,
Until the day I dee!

VII

O that I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
Out of my bed she bids me rise,
Says, ‘Haste, and come to me!’

VIII

O Helen fair! O Helen chaste!
If I were with thee, I’d be blest,
Where thou lies low and taks thy rest,
On fair Kirconnell lea.

IX

I wish my grave were growing green,
A winding-sheet drawn owre my een,
And I in Helen’s arms lying,
On fair Kirconnell lea.

X

I wish I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
And I am weary of the skies,
For her sake that died for me.

_153. The Lament of the Border Widow_

I

My love he built me a bonny bower,
And clad it a’ wi’ lilye flour;
A brawer bower ye ne’er did see,
Than my true love he built for me.

II

There came a man, by middle day,
He spied his sport, and went away;
And brought the King that very night,
Who brake my bower, and slew my knight.

III

He slew my knight, to me sae dear;
He slew my knight, and poin’d[1289] his gear;
My servants all for life did flee,
And left me in extremitie.

IV

I sew’d his sheet, making my mane;
I watch’d the corpse, myself alane;
I watch’d his body, night and day;
No living creature came that way.

V

I took his body on my back,
And whiles I gaed, and whiles I sat;
I digg’d a grave, and laid him in,
And happ’d him with the sod sae green.

VI

But think na ye my heart was sair,
When I laid the moul’ on his yellow hair;
O think na ye my heart was wae,
When I turn’d about, away to gae?

VII

Nae living man I’ll love again,
Since that my lovely knight is slain;
Wi’ ae lock of his yellow hair
I’ll chain my heart for evermair.

FOOTNOTES:

[1289] poin’d = made forfeit.