The Book of Old English Ballads Part 10

"I never hurt fair maid in all my time, Nor at my end shall it be; But give me my bent bow in my hand, And a broad arrow I'll let flee; And where this arrow is taken up, There shall my grave digged be.

"Lay me a green sod under my head, And another under my feet; And lay my bent bow by my side, Which was my music sweet; And make my grave of gravel and green, Which is most right and meet.

"Let me have length and breadth enough, With a green sod under my head; That they may say when I am dead, Here lies bold Robin Hood."

These words they readily promised him, Which did bold Robin please; And there they buried bold Robin Hood, Near to the fair Kirkleys.

The Twa Corbies

As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies making a maen: The tane unto the t'ither did say, "Whaur shall we gang and dine the day?"

"O doun beside yon auld fail d.y.k.e, I wot there lies a new-slain knight; And naebody kens that he lies there But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.

"His hound is to the hunting gane, His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady's ta'en another mate, Sae we may mak' our dinner sweet.

"O we'll sit on his white hause bane, And I'll pyke out his bonny blue e'en; Wi' ae lock o' his gowden hair We'll theek our nest when it blaws bare.

"Mony a ane for him makes maen, But nane shall ken whaur he is gane.

Over his banes when they are bare, The wind shall blaw for evermair."

Waly, Waly, Love be Bonny

A SCOTTISH SONG

O waly, waly up the bank, And waly, waly down the brae, And waly, waly yon burn side, Where I and my love were wont to gae.

I leant my back unto an aik, I thought it was a trusty tree; But first it bow'd, and syne it brak, Sae my true love did lichtly me.

O waly, waly, but gin love be bonny, A little time while it is new; But when its auld, it waxeth cauld, And fades awa' like morning dew.

O wherfore shuld I busk my head?

Or wherfore shuld I kame my hair?

For my true love has me forsook, And says he'll never loe me mair.

Now Arthur-Seat sall be my bed, The sheets shall neir be prest by me: Saint Anton's well sall be my drink, Since my true love has forsaken me.

Marti'mas wind, when wilt thou blaw, And shake the green leaves aff the tree?

O gentle death, when wilt thou c.u.m?

For of my life I am weare.

'Tis not the frost that freezes fell, Nor blawing snaws inclemence; 'Tis not sic cauld that makes me cry, But my love's heart grown cauld to me.

Whan we came in by Glasgow town, We were a comely sight to see; My love was clad in black velvet, And I myself in cramase.

But had I wist, before I kist, That love had been sae ill to win, I had lockt my heart in a case of gowd, And pinnd it with a siller pin.

And, oh! that my young babe were born, And set upon the nurse's knee, And I myself were dead and gane!

And the green gra.s.s growing over me.

The Nut-brown Maid

Be it right, or wrong, these men among On women do complain; Affirming this, how that it is A labour spent in vain To love them wele; for never a dele They love a man again: For let a man do what he can, Their favour to attain, Yet, if a new do them pursue, Their first true lover then Laboureth for nought; for from her thought He is a banished man.

I say not nay, but that all day It is both writ and said That woman's faith is, as who saith, All utterly decayed; But, nevertheless, right good witness In this case might be laid, That they love true, and continue, Record the Nut-brown Maid: Which, when her love came, her to prove, To her to make his moan, Would not depart; for in her heart She loved but him alone.

Then between us let us discuss What was all the manere Between them two: we will also Tell all the pain, and fere, That she was in. Now I begin, So that ye me answere; Wherefore, all ye, that present be I pray you, give an ear.

I am the knight; I come by night, As secret as I can; Saying,' Alas! thus standeth the case, I am a banished man.'

SHE

And I your will for to fulfil In this will not refuse; Trusting to shew, in wordes few, That men have an ill use (To their own shame) women to blame, And causeless them accuse: Therefore to you I answer now, All women to excuse,-- Mine own heart dear, with you what chere?

I pray you, tell anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.

HE

It standeth so; a dede is do Whereof great harm shall grow My destiny is for to die A shameful death, I trowe; Or else to flee: the one must be.

None other way I know, But to withdraw as an outlaw, And take me to my bow.

Wherefore, adieu, my own heart true!

None other rede I can: For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man.

SHE

O Lord, what is this worldys bliss, That changeth as the moon!

My summer's day in l.u.s.ty May Is darked before the noon.

I hear you say, farewell: Nay, nay, We depart not so soon.

Why say ye so? wheder will ye go?

Alas! what have ye done?

All my welfare to sorrow and care Should change, if ye were gone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.

HE