Читать книгу English and Scottish Ballads (Vol. 1-8) - Various Authors - Страница 172

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"This ballad is given from two copies obtained from recitation, which differ but little from each other. Indeed, the only variation is in the verse where the outlawed brother unweetingly slays his sister. One reading is—

'He's taken out his wee penknife,

Hey how bonnie; And he's twined her o' her ain sweet life, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.'

The other reading is that adopted in the text. This ballad is popular in the southern parishes of Perthshire: but where the scene is laid the editor has been unable to ascertain. Nor has any research of his enabled him to throw farther light on the history of its hero with the fantastic name, than what the ballad itself supplies." Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 88.

Another version is subjoined, from Kinloch's collection.

This ballad is found in Danish; Herr Truels's Doettre, Danske Viser, No. 164. In a note the editor endeavors to show that the story is based on fact!

There were three ladies lived in a bower,

Eh vow bonnie, And they went out to pull a flower, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

They hadna pu'ed a flower but ane,5

Eh vow bonnie, When up started to them a banisht man, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

He's ta'en the first sister by her hand,

Eh vow bonnie,10 And he's turned her round and made her stand, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,

Eh vow bonnie, Or will ye die by my wee penknife,"15 On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?

"It's I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

Eh vow bonnie, But I'll rather die by your wee penknife," On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.20

He's killed this may and he's laid her by,

Eh vow bonnie, For to bear the red rose company, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

He's taken the second ane by the hand,25

Eh vow bonnie, And he's turned her round and made her stand, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,

Eh vow bonnie,30 Or will ye die by my wee penknife," On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?

"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

Eh vow bonnie, But I'll rather die by your wee penknife,"35 On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

He's killed this may and he's laid her by,

Eh vow bonnie, For to bear the red rose company, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.40

He's taken the youngest ane by the hand,

Eh vow bonnie, And he's turned her round and made her stand, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

Says, "Will ye be a rank robber's wife,45

Eh vow bonnie, Or will ye die by my wee penknife," On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?

"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

Eh vow bonnie,50 Nor will I die by your wee penknife, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

"For I hae a brother in this wood,

Eh vow bonnie, And gin ye kill me, it's he'll kill thee,"55 On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

"What's thy brother's name? come tell to me,"

Eh vow bonnie; "My brother's name is Babylon," On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.60

"O sister, sister, what have I done,

Eh vow bonnie? O have I done this ill to thee, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie?

"O since I've done this evil deed,65

Eh vow bonnie, Good sall never be seen o' me," On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.

He's taken out his wee penknife,

Eh vow bonnie,70 And he's twyned himsel o' his ain sweet life, On the bonnie banks o' Fordie.