Page images
PDF
EPUB

The foldan ftrucke a second stroke,
That made the bloude to flowe:
All påle and wan was that ladye fayre,
And thrice fhe wept for woe.

[ocr errors]

The foldan ftrucke a third fell stroke,
Which brought the knighte on his knee:

Sad forrow pierced that ladyes heart,
And fhe fhriekt loud fhreikings three.

The knighte he leapt upon his feete,
All reckleffe of the pain :

Quoth hee, But heaven be now my speede,

Or elfe I fhall be flaine.

He grafped his fworde with mayne and mighte,

And spying a secrette part,

He drave it into the foldan's fyde,

And pierced him to the heart,

Then all the people gave a fhoute,
Whan they fawe the foldan falle :

The ladye wept, and thanked Chrift,

That had reskewed her from thrall.

And nowe the kinge with all his barons
Rofe uppe from offe his feate,
And downe he stepped into the listes
That curteous knighte to greete.

E 2

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

But he for payne and lacke of bloude
Was fallen intò a swounde,

And there all walteringe in his gore,

Laye lifeleffe on the grounde.

Come downe, come downe, my daughter deare, 175

Thou art a leeche of skille;

Farre lever had I lose halfe my landes,

1

Than this good knighte sholde spille.

Downe then steppeth that fayre ladyè,
To helpe him if she maye;

180

[blocks in formation]

Shee layde her pale cold cheeke to his,
And thus fhe made her moane.

295,

O staye, my deare and onlye lord,
For mee thy faithfulle feere;
"Tis meet that I shold followe thee,
Who haft bought my love foe deare.

Then fayntinge in a deadlye fwoune,
And with a deepe-fette fighe,

That burfte her gentle hearte in twayne,
Fayre Christabelle did dye.

Q

V.

EDWARD, EDWARD,

A SCOTTISH BALLA D,

From a MS. copy tranfmitted from Scotland.

UHY dois zour brand fae drap wi' bluid,
Edward, Edward ?

Quhy dois zour brand fae drap wi' bluid ?

And quhy fae fad gang zee, O ?

O, I hae killed my hauke fae guid,

Mither, mithers

E 3

200

5

O, I

O, I hae killed my hauke fae guid

And I had nae mair bot hee, O

Zour haukis bluid was nevir fae reid;

Edward, Edward.

Zour haukis bluid was nevir fae reid;

My deir fon I tell thee, O.

O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,.

Mither, mither:

O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,

That erft was fae fair and frie, O.

Zour fteid was auld, and ze hae gat mair,

Edward, Edward :

Zour fteid was auld, and ze hae gat mair,

Sum other dule ze drie, O.

O, I hae killed my fadir deir,

O, I hae killed my fadir deir ́

Mither, mither:

Alas! and wae is mee, O!

And quhatten penance wul ze drie for that?
Edward, Edward.

25

And quhatten penance will ze drie for that?

My deir fon, now tell me, O.

Ile fet my feit in zonder boat,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Ile fet my feit in zonder boat,

And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.

And quhat wul ze doe wi' zour towirs and zour ha’,

[merged small][ocr errors]

And quhat wul ze doe wi' zour towirs and zour ha',
That were fae fair to see, O?

Ile let thame ftand tul they doun fa',

Mither, mither :

Ile let thame ftand tul they doun fa',

For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.

And quhat wul ze leive to zour bairns and zour wife,

Edward, Edward ?

And quhat wul ze leive to zour bairns and zour wife,
Quhan ze gang ovir the sea, O?

The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,

Mither, mither:

The warldis room, let them beg thrae life,

For thame nevir mair wul I fee, O.

And quhat wul ze leive to zour ain mither deir,

Edward, Edward:

And quhat wul ze leive to zour ain mither deir,

My deir fon, now tell mee, O.

The curfe of hell frae me fall ze beir,

E 4

Mither, mither:

35

40

45

50

The

« PreviousContinue »