Читать книгу English and Scottish Ballads (Vol. 1-8) - Various Authors - Страница 164
THE CRUEL BROTHER:
OR,
THE BRIDE'S TESTAMENT.
ОглавлениеOf this ballad, which is still commonly recited and sung in Scotland, four copies have been published. The following is from Jamieson's collection, i. 66, where it was printed verbatim after the recitation of Mrs. Arrott. A copy from Aytoun's collection is subjoined, which is nearly the same as a less perfect one in Herd, i. 149, and the fourth, from Gilbert's Ancient Christmas Carols, &c., is in the Appendix to this volume.
The conclusion, or testamentary part, occurs very frequently in ballads, e.g. Den lillas Testamente, Svenska Folk-Visor, No. 68, translated in the Appendix to this volume, the end of Den onde Svigermoder, Danske Viser, i. 261, translated in Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 344, Möen paa Baalet, Grundtvig, No. 109, A, st. 18–21, and Kong Valdemar og hans Söster, Grundtvig, No. 126, A, st. 101–105. See also Edward, and Lord Donald, p. 225, p. 244.
There was three ladies play'd at the ba',
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; There came a knight, and play'd o'er them a', As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The eldest was baith tall and fair,5
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But the youngest was beyond compare, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The midmost had a gracefu' mien,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;10 But the youngest look'd like beauty's queen, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The knight bow'd low to a' the three,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But to the youngest he bent his knee,15 As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
The lady turned her head aside,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; The knight he woo'd her to be his bride, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.20
The lady blush'd a rosy red,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And said, "Sir knight, I'm o'er young to wed," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"O lady fair, give me your hand,25
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And I'll mak you ladie of a' my land," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"Sir knight, ere you my favor win,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;30 Ye maun get consent frae a' my kin," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has got consent fra her parents dear,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And likewise frae her sisters fair,35 As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has got consent frae her kin each one,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; But forgot to speer at her brother John, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.40
Now, when the wedding day was come,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; The knight would take his bonny bride home, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
And many a lord and many a knight,45
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; Came to behold that lady bright, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
And there was nae man that did her see,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,50 But wished himself bridegroom to be, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
Her father dear led her down the stair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And her sisters twain they kiss'd her there,55 As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
Her mother dear led her through the close,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And her brother John set her on her horse, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.60
She lean'd her o'er the saddle-bow,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay, To give him a kiss ere she did go, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
He has ta'en a knife, baith lang and sharp,65
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay, And stabb'd the bonny bride to the heart, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
She hadna ridden half thro' the town,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay,70 Until her heart's blood stained her gown, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"Ride saftly on," said the best young man,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "For I think our bonny bride looks pale and wan,"75 As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"O lead me gently up yon hill,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay, And I'll there sit down, and make my will," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.80
"O what will you leave to your father dear?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "The silver-shod steed that brought me here," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"What will you leave to your mother dear?"85
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "My velvet pall and silken gear," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"And what will ye leave to your sister Ann?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;90 "My silken scarf, and my golden fan," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"What will ye leave to your sister Grace?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "My bloody cloaths to wash and dress,"95 As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
"What will ye leave to your brother John?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "The gallows-tree to hang him on," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.100
"What will ye leave to your brother John's wife?"
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; "The wilderness to end her life," As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
This fair lady in her grave was laid,105
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay; And a mass was o'er her said, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.
But it would have made your heart right sair,
With a heigh-ho! and a lily gay;110 To see the bridegroom rive his hair, As the primrose spreads so sweetly.