Northumberland Yesterday and To-day Part 19

The lady p.r.i.c.kt her gallant steed, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And over the water swam with speed, Even she the fair flower of Northumberland.

From top to toe all wet was she, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) "This have I done for love of thee, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland."

Thus rode she all one winter's night.

(Follow, my love, come over the strand) Till Edenborough they saw in sight, The fairest town in all Scotland.

"Now I have a wife and children five, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) In Edenborough they be alive, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.

"And if thou wilt not give thy hand, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Then get thee home to fair England, And thou the fair flower of Northumberland

"This favour thou shalt have, to boot, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) I'll have thy horse; go thou on foot, Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland."

"O false and faithless knight," quoth she; (Follow, my love, come over the strand) "And canst thou deal so bad with me, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland?"

He took her from her stately steed, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And left her there in extreme need, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

Then she sat down full heavily, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) At length two knights came riding by, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

Two gallant knights of fair England, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And there they found her on the strand, Even she the fair flower of Northumberland.

She fell down humbly on her knee, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Crying, "Courteous knights, take pity on me, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland.

"I have offended my father dear, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) For a false knight that brought me here, Even I the fair flower of Northumberland."

They took her up beside them then, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) And brought her to her father again, And she the fair flower of Northumberland.

Now all you fair maids, be warned by me, (Follow, my love, come over the strand) Scots never were true, nor ever will be, To lord, nor lady, nor fair England.

WHITTINGHAM FAIR.

Are you going to Whittingham Fair (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), Remember me to one that lives there, For once she was a true lover of mine.

Tell her to make me a cambric s.h.i.+rt, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), Without any seam or needlework, Then she shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell her to wash it in yonder well, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), Where never spring water or rain ever fell, And she shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), Which never bore blossom since Adam was born.

Then she shall be a true lover of mine.

Now he has asked me questions three, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), I hope he'll answer as many for me, Before he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to buy me an acre of land, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), Betwixt the salt water and the sea sand, Then he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to plough it with a ram's horn.

(Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), And sow it all over with one pepper corn.

And he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to shear't with a sickle of leather, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), And bind it up with a peac.o.c.k feather, And he shall be a true lover of mine.

Tell him to thrash it on yonder wall, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), And never let one corn of it fall, Then he shall be a true lover of mine.

When he has done and finished his work, (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme), O tell him to come and he'll have his s.h.i.+rt, And he shall be a true lover of mine.

O THE OAK AND THE ASH.

A North country mayde up to London had strayed, Although with her nature it did not agree.

Which made her repent, and often lament, Still wis.h.i.+ng again in the North for to be.

"O the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Ivy tree, They are all growing green in my North Countrie!"

"O fain wad I be in the North Countrie Where the lads and the la.s.ses are all making hay; O there wad I see what is pleasant to me,-- A mischief 'light on them enticed me away!

O the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Ivy tree, They are all growing green in my North Countrie!"

"Then farewell my father, and farewell my mother, Until I do see you I nothing but mourn; Remembering my brothers, my sisters, and others-- In less than a year I hope to return.

O the Oak and the Ash and the bonny Ivy tree.

They are all growing green in my North Countrie!"

SAIR FEYL'D, HINNY!

"Sair feyl'd, hinny!

Sair feyl'd now, Sair feyl'd, hinny, Sin' aw ken'd thou.

Aw was young and l.u.s.ty, Aw was fair and clear; Aw was young and l.u.s.ty Mony a lang year.

Sair feyl'd, hinny!

Sair feyl'd now; Sair feyl'd, hinny, Sin' aw ken'd thou.

"When aw was young and l.u.s.ty Aw cud lowp u d.y.k.e; But now aw'm aud and still.

Aw can hardly stop a syke.

Sair feyl'd, hinny!

Sair feyl'd now, Sair feyl'd hinny, Sin' aw ken'd thou.

"When aw was five and twenty Aw was brave an bauld.

Now at five an' sixty Aw'm byeth stiff an' cauld.

Sair feyl'd, hinny!

Sair feyl'd now.

Sair feyl'd, hinny, Sin' aw ken'd thou"

Thus said the aud man To the oak tree; "Sair feyl'd is aw Sin' aw kenn'd thee!