Читать книгу English and Scottish Ballads (Vol. 1-8) - Various Authors - Страница 161

Table of Contents

Verbatim (with one interpolated stanza) from the recitation of Mrs. Brown. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, i. 50.

There was twa sisters liv'd in a bower,

Bínnorie, O Bínnorie! There came a knight to be their wooer, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,5

Binnorie, O Binnorie! But he loved the youngest aboon a' thing, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He courted the eldest wi' broach and knife,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!10 But he loved the youngest as his life, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexed sair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And sair envied her sister fair,15 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Intill her bower she coudna rest,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! Wi' grief and spite she maistly brast, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.20

Upon a morning fair and clear,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! She cried upon her sister dear, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, come to yon sea strand,25

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And see our father's ships come to land," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

She's ta'en her by the milk-white hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!30 And led her down to yon sea strand, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The youngest stood upon a stane,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! The eldest came and threw her in,35 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

She took her by the middle sma'

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And dashed her bonny back to the jaw, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.40

"O sister, sister, tak my hand,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And I'se mak ye heir to a' my land, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister, tak my middle,45

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And ye's get my goud and my gouden girdle, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister, save my life,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!50 And I swear I'se never be nae man's wife," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"Foul fa' the hand that I should tak,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! It twin'd me o' my warldes mak,55 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"Your cherry cheeks and yellow hair

Binnorie, O Binnorie! Gars me gang maiden for evermair," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.60

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! Till she came to the mouth o' yon mill-dam, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

O out it came the miller's son,65

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And saw the fair maid soummin in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O father, father, draw your dam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!70 There's either a mermaid or a swan," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

[The miller quickly drew the dam,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And there he found a drown'd woman,75 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.]

"And sair and lang mat their teen last,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! That wrought thee sic a dowie cast," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie!80

You coudna see her yellow hair

Binnorie, O Binnorie! For goud and pearl that was sae rare, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

You coudna see her middle sma85

Binnorie, O Binnorie! For gouden girdle that was sae braw, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

You coudna see her fingers white,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!90 For gouden rings that were sae gryte, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And by there came a harper fine,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! That harped to the king at dine,95 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Whan he did look that lady upon,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! He sigh'd and made a heavy moan, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.100

He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! And wi' them strung his harp sae fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The first tune it did play and sing,105

Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, "Fareweel to my father the king," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The nexten tune that it play'd seen,

Binnorie, O Binnorie!110 Was, "Fareweel to my mither the queen," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The thirden tune that it play'd then,

Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, "Wae to my sister, fair Ellen,"115 By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie!