A Bundle of Ballads [20]
unkindly hath scorn-ed my love, O willow, willow, willow! And carelessly smiles at the sorrows I prove; O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"I cannot against her unkindly exclaim, O willow, willow, willow! 'Cause once well I loved her, and honoured her name: O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"The name of her sounded so sweet in mine ear, O willow, willow, willow! It raised my heart lightly, the name of my dear; O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"As then 'twas my comfort, it now is my grief; O willow, willow, willow! It now brings me anguish; then brought me relief. O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"Farewell, fair false-hearted: plaints end with my breath! O willow, willow, willow! Thou dost loathe me, I love thee, though cause of my death. O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
THE LITTLE WEE MAN.
As I gaed out to tak the air Between Midmar and bonny Craigha', There I met a little wee man, The less o' him I never saw.
His legs were but a finger lang, And thick and nimble was his knee; Between his brows there was a span, Between his shoulders ell-es three.
He lifted a stane sax feet in height, He lifted it up till his right knee, And fifty yards and mair I'm sure, I wite he made the stane to flee.
"O, little wee man, but ye hae power! And O, where may your dwelling be?"-- "I dwell beneath yon bonny bower. O, will ye gae wi' me and see?"--
Sae on we lap, and awa' we rade Till we come to yon little ha', The kipples were o' the gude red gowd, The roof was o' the proseyla.
There were pipers playing in every neuk, And ladies dancing, jimp and sma'; And aye the owre-turn o' their tune Was, "Our wee wee man has been long awa!"
Out gat the lights, on cam the mist Ladies nor mannie mair could see, I turned about, and ga'e a look Just at the foot o' Benachie.
THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE. AFTER THE TAKING OF CADIZ.
Will you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an Englishman? Garments gay and rich as may be Decked with jewels she had on. Of a comely countenance and grace was she, And by birth and parentage of high degree.
As his prisoner there he kept her, In his hands her life did lie; Cupid's bands did tie them faster By the liking of an eye. In his courteous company was all her joy, To favour him in anything she was not coy.
But at last there came commandment For to set the ladies free, With their jewels still adorn-ed, None to do them injury. Then said this lady mild, "Full woe is me; O let me still sustain this kind captivity!
"Gallant captain, show some pity To a lady in distress; Leave me not within this city, For to die in heaviness: Thou hast set this present day my body free, But my heart in prison still remains with thee."
"How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, Whom thou know'st thy country's foe? Thy fair words make me suspect thee: Serpents lie where flowers grow."-- "All the harm I wish to thee, most courteous knight: God grant the same upon my head may fully light.
"Blessed be the time and season, That ye came on Spanish ground; If our foes ye may be term-ed, Gentle foes we have you found: With our city ye have won our hearts each one; Then to your country bear away that is your own."--
"Rest you still, most gallant lady; Rest you still, and weep no more; Of fair lovers there is plenty, Spain doth yield a wondrous store."-- "Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find, But Englishmen through all the world are counted kind.
"Leave me not unto a Spaniard, You alone enjoy my heart; I am lovely, young, and tender, Love is likewise my desert: Still to serve thee day and night
"I cannot against her unkindly exclaim, O willow, willow, willow! 'Cause once well I loved her, and honoured her name: O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"The name of her sounded so sweet in mine ear, O willow, willow, willow! It raised my heart lightly, the name of my dear; O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"As then 'twas my comfort, it now is my grief; O willow, willow, willow! It now brings me anguish; then brought me relief. O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
"Farewell, fair false-hearted: plaints end with my breath! O willow, willow, willow! Thou dost loathe me, I love thee, though cause of my death. O willow, willow, willow! O willow, willow, willow! Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
THE LITTLE WEE MAN.
As I gaed out to tak the air Between Midmar and bonny Craigha', There I met a little wee man, The less o' him I never saw.
His legs were but a finger lang, And thick and nimble was his knee; Between his brows there was a span, Between his shoulders ell-es three.
He lifted a stane sax feet in height, He lifted it up till his right knee, And fifty yards and mair I'm sure, I wite he made the stane to flee.
"O, little wee man, but ye hae power! And O, where may your dwelling be?"-- "I dwell beneath yon bonny bower. O, will ye gae wi' me and see?"--
Sae on we lap, and awa' we rade Till we come to yon little ha', The kipples were o' the gude red gowd, The roof was o' the proseyla.
There were pipers playing in every neuk, And ladies dancing, jimp and sma'; And aye the owre-turn o' their tune Was, "Our wee wee man has been long awa!"
Out gat the lights, on cam the mist Ladies nor mannie mair could see, I turned about, and ga'e a look Just at the foot o' Benachie.
THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE. AFTER THE TAKING OF CADIZ.
Will you hear a Spanish lady, How she wooed an Englishman? Garments gay and rich as may be Decked with jewels she had on. Of a comely countenance and grace was she, And by birth and parentage of high degree.
As his prisoner there he kept her, In his hands her life did lie; Cupid's bands did tie them faster By the liking of an eye. In his courteous company was all her joy, To favour him in anything she was not coy.
But at last there came commandment For to set the ladies free, With their jewels still adorn-ed, None to do them injury. Then said this lady mild, "Full woe is me; O let me still sustain this kind captivity!
"Gallant captain, show some pity To a lady in distress; Leave me not within this city, For to die in heaviness: Thou hast set this present day my body free, But my heart in prison still remains with thee."
"How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, Whom thou know'st thy country's foe? Thy fair words make me suspect thee: Serpents lie where flowers grow."-- "All the harm I wish to thee, most courteous knight: God grant the same upon my head may fully light.
"Blessed be the time and season, That ye came on Spanish ground; If our foes ye may be term-ed, Gentle foes we have you found: With our city ye have won our hearts each one; Then to your country bear away that is your own."--
"Rest you still, most gallant lady; Rest you still, and weep no more; Of fair lovers there is plenty, Spain doth yield a wondrous store."-- "Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find, But Englishmen through all the world are counted kind.
"Leave me not unto a Spaniard, You alone enjoy my heart; I am lovely, young, and tender, Love is likewise my desert: Still to serve thee day and night