Читать книгу English and Scottish Ballads (Vol. 1-8) - Various Authors - Страница 160

There were two sisters sat in a bour;

Bínnorie, O Bínnorie; There came a knight to be their wooer; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with glove and ring,5

Binnorie, O Binnorie; But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with broach and knife,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;10 But he lo'ed the youngest abune his life; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexed sair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And sore envied her sister fair;15 By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The eldest said to the youngest ane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; "Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.20

She's ta'en her by the lily hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And led her down to the river strand; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The youngest stude upon a stane,25

Binnorie, O Binnorie; The eldest came and pushed her in; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

She took her by the middle sma',

Binnorie, O Binnorie;30 And dash'd her bonny back to the jaw; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"O sister, sister, reach your hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And ye shall be heir of half my land."—35 By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"O sister, I'll not reach my hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And I'll be heir of all your land; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.40

"Shame fa' the hand that I should take,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; It's twin'd me and my world's make."— By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"O sister, reach me but your glove,45

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And sweet William shall be your love."— By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove!

Binnorie, O Binnorie;50 And sweet William shall better be my love, By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie, Garr'd me gang maiden evermair."—55 By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; Until she cam to the miller's dam; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.60

"O father, father, draw your dam!

Binnorie, O Binnorie; There's either a mermaid, or a milk-white swan." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The miller hasted and drew his dam,65

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And there he found a drown'd woman; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could not see her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;70 For gowd and pearls that were so rare; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

You could not see her middle sma',

Binnorie, O Binnorie; Her gowden girdle was sae bra';75 By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

A famous harper passing by,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; The sweet pale face he chanced to spy; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.80

And when he looked that lady on,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; He sigh'd and made a heavy moan; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He made a harp of her breast-bone,85

Binnorie, O Binnorie; Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

The strings he framed of her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;90 Whose notes made sad the listening ear; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He brought it to her father's hall,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And there was the court assembled all;95 By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

He laid his harp upon a stone,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And straight it began to play alone; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.100

"O yonder sits my father, the king,

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And yonder sits my mother, the queen;" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

"And yonder stands my brother Hugh,105

Binnorie, O Binnorie; And by him my William, sweet and true." By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.

But the last tune that the harp play'd then,

Binnorie, O Binnorie;110 Was—"Woe to my sister, false Helen!" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie.