73. Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
[Known in the US and Canada sometimes as "The Brown Girl" or in the British Isles rarely as "The Brown Bride," this popular ballad is not to be confused with the ballad number 295, The Brown Girl, which has a single authentic text derived from a broadside (The Cruel Nymph) and is part of a different song family (see notes on Child 295 for more info).
The North American versions are similar to Child D, the traditional English version, as reflected by the broadside, which is titled "Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor" and dates back to the c.1670s. Since there are no North American versions closely resembling the eight Scottish versions given by Child (A-I except D) it seems that the Scottish versions could be considered a related but separate ballad. Perhaps "Sweet Willie and Fair Annie' might be a more appropriate title for the Scottish versions, since Lord Thomas is only used in two of the eight versions. Here's what Robert Jamieson wrote in his 1806 book, Popular Ballads and Songs, from Tradition:
SWEET WILLIE, AND FAIR ANNIE.
Three ballads, all of them of considerable merit, on the same subject as the following, are to be found in Vol. III of the "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," under the titles of Lord Thomas and Fair Elinor, Fair Margaret and Sweet William, and Lord Thomas and Fair Annet; the latter of which is in that work given with some corrections "from a MS. copy transmitted from Scotland," and supposed to be composed, not without improvements, out of the two former ancient English ones.
At this distance of time, it would be in vain to attempt to ascertain which was the original, and which the imitation; and, I think it extremely probable, that, in their origin, they were perfectly independent of each other, and both derived from some one of those fableaux, romances, or tales, which, about four or five hundred years ago, were so familiarly known, in various forms, over a great part of Europe, that it would even then have been difficult to say to what country, or language, they owed their birth.
The text of Lord Thomas and Fair Annet seems to have been adjusted, previous to its leaving Scotland, by some one who was more of a scholar than the reciters of ballads generally are; and, in attempting to give it an antique cast, it has been deprived of somewhat of that easy facility which is the distinguished characteristic of the traditionary ballad narrative. With the text of the following ditty, no such experiment has been made. It is here given pure and entire, as it was taken down by the editor, from the recitation of a lady in Aberbrothick, (Mrs W. Arrot,) to whose politeness and friendship this collection is under considerable obligations. She had no previous intimation of the compiler's visit, or of his undertaking ; and the few hours he spent at her friendly fire-side were very busily employed in writing. As she had, when a child, learnt the ballad from an elderly maid-servant, and probably had not repeated it for a dozen years before I had the good fortune to be introduced to her; it may be depended upon, that every line was recited to me as nearly as possible in the exact form in which she learnt it.
Although the story is already well known to most readers of compositions of this kind, there are in the narrative of the following simple and affecting tale, so many beauties, and so exquisite in their kind, that I make no apology for inserting it in this collection.
* * * *
Jamieson's writing concurred with what Thomas Percy wrote in In Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, 1765:
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET seems to be composed (not without improvements) out of two ancient English ones, printed in this volume. If this had been the original, the authors of those two ballads would hardly have adopted two such different stories : besides, this contains enlargements not to be found in either of the others. It is given, with some corrections, from a MS. copy transmitted from Scotland.
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET is given (with corrections) from an ancient copy in black-letter in the Pepys Collection, entitled, "A tragical ballad on the unfortunate love of Lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, together with the downfall of the browne girl." In the same collection may be seen an attempt to modernize this old song, and reduce it to a different measure: a proof of its popularity.
* * * *
In 1836 an editor for the Scottish musical museum, Vol. 6 wrote:
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET
Bishop Percy, who published this fine old Scottish ballad in his Reliques of Ancient English Poetry in 1765, from a manuscript transmitted to him from Scotland, observes, that it seems to be composed (not without improvements) out of two ancient English ones. The first of these is entitled " A tragical Ballad on the unfortunate Love of Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor; together with the Downfall of the Browne Girl." The second is " Fair Margaret's Misfortunes, or Sweet William's frightful Dreams on his Wedding Night; with the sudden Death and Burial of these noble Lovers." The learned Prelate likewise acquaints us, that although the latter ballad was picked up on a stall, he considers it to be the old song quoted in Fletcher's comedy of "The Knight of the Burning Pestle." This old play, as appears from the dedication prefixed to the first edition in 4to., printed at London, 1613, was written in 1611, and was not well received when acted on the stage. The reader will find some further observations on the ballad of "Sweet William and Fair Margaret," in the notes on the following song, No 536.
Upon comparing these ballads with each other, viz. Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor—Fair Margaret and Sweet William—Lord Thomas and Fair Annet—the present Editor, notwithstanding the conjecture of the learned Prelate, is of opinion, both from the difference in the structure of the stanzas, the language and the incidents of the several pieces, that they were composed by different hands, although it may be difficult now to decide which of the three was first written. It is very possible, that the ballads themselves are, comparatively speaking, only modernized abridgments of ancient metrical romances, familiar among all the nations of Europe many ages ago. These romances, in their turn, likewise appear to have been derived from Asiatic sources, and were gradually introduced into the western world, by successive minstrels, for the amusement of the great. As a full investigation of these facts, however, would lead us into a field by far too wide for the nature of this work, we are constrained to return to the ballad now under consideration.
In the year 1806, Mr Robert Jamieson published a Collection of Popular Ballads and Songs from tradition, Manuscripts, and scarce Editions, among which is a ballad entitled "Sweet Willie and Fair Annie," which he took down from the recitation of Mrs. W. Arnot of Aberbrothick, who, it is said, learned it when a child from an elderly maid-servant. The leading incidents of Mr. Jamieson's ballad are very similar to those of the earlier edition of "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet;" but the name of the hero is changed from Lord Thomas to Sweet Willie, who is represented as " the heir of Duplin town," the residence of the Earl of Kinnoulin Perthshire. Several of the stanzas in Mr Jamieson's ballad are likewise admitted to have been altered and supplied by himself. But neither these alterations, nor interpolations, nor the changing of the scene from the borders to Perthshire, appear to have improved the original ballad. It only remains to be observed, that, in the Scots Museum, the ballad of "Lord Thomas and Fair Annet" is adapted to the tune called " The Old Bard," preserved in Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion, book xii.
* * * *
Child says, "The English version of this ballad, 'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor,' given, with alterations, in Percy's Reliques, III, 82, 1765,[1] is a broadside of Charles the Second's time, printed for I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger, and licensed by L'Estrange, who was censor from 1663 to 1685. This copy has become traditional in Scotland and Ireland."
Child D, the English broadside, did not enter tradition in Scotland and Ireland or England for that matter. We know this because stanza 4 of the broadside is rarely found in tradition. The broadside was taken by a printer from tradition and stanza 4 was either added or it was peculiar to that version. The broadside was taken from an earlier ur-ballad which was traditional in England before c1670 and this ur-ballad came to North America, I presume in the late 1600s. This ballad was very popular in the 1800s and early 1900s in Appalachia which meant it came first to the colony of Virginia (House of Burgess was established in Jamestown in 1619) and spread from there. Of the 284 versions from north America only 2 (Flanders C and Atwood) from New England have stanza 4 as found in the broadside, which means the 19-stanza broadside was not sung in America either. What was sung was the early English ur-ballad which would be titled "Lord Thomas and Fair Ellender." Ellender being the most common rendering of his loves name; Eleanor and Ellen are also common.
The ur-ballad is very consistent and is represented by the broadside without stanza 4 which is replaced by a stanza that describes Lord Thomas traveling to invite Ellender to his wedding and his rich attire which made his look like some king (knight). The ur-ballad has 21 stanzas with an additional stanza 13 where Lord Thomas leads Ellender into his hall and seats her among the ladies all; and an additional ending stanza where he asks their grave to be dug wide and deep with Ellender placed in his arms and the brown girl at his feet.
Some traces of the Scottish versions have rarely been found in the US; the "water that washes Ellender's face white" is found in three of the ballads supplied by Child from Irish sources and in 6 versions collected in the US. Some US versions have the rose-brier ending. The Scot "rede" (riddle) turns up in some US versions also. For details see US & Canada versions.
R. Matteson 2012, 2014]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (Found at the end of the Narrative)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-I (I was added in a later edition in Additions and Corrections) Version D has 9 texts, the changes from D a to make the other texts are found End-Notes. An additional US text, The Brown Girl, is given from the 1889 JOAFL)
5. Endnotes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand colum'n):
1. Recordings & Info: Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
A. Roud Number 4: Lord Thomas and Fair Annet (746 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: Lord Thomas and Fair Annet (Bronson's music examples and texts)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-I with additional notes)]
Printed by J. Pitts (London) between 1802 and 1819
Child's Narrative
A. 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,' Percy's Reliques, 1765, II, 293; III, 240, ed. 1767.
B. 'The Nut-Brown Bride,' Kinloch Manuscripts, I, p 1.
C. 'The Brown Bride and Lord Thomas,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 157.
D. 'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor.'
a. Pepys Ballads, III, 316, No 312.
b. Other broadside copy.
c. Other broadside copy.
d. Other broadside copy.
e. Recited copy.
f. Recited copy.
g. Recited copy.
h. Recited copy.
i. Recited copy.
E. 'Sweet Willie and Fair Annie,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 22.
F. 'Sweet Willie and Fair Annie,' Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 127, V, 339.
G. a. Skene Manuscripts, p. 104.
b. "The Old Lady's Collection," No 24.
H. 'Fair Annie and Sweet Willie,' Gibb Manuscript, p. 64.
I. "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 22 h; in the handwriting of William Laidlaw. From Jean Scott.
The copy of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet' in Herd, 1769, p. 246, 1776, I, 24, and in the Musical Museum, p. 553, No 535, is Percy's, A.
The English version of this ballad, 'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor,' given, with alterations, in Percy's Reliques, III, 82, 1765,[1] is a broadside of Charles the Second's time, printed for I. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger, and licensed by L'Estrange, who was censor from 1663 to 1685. This copy has become traditional in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish traditional copy, 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,' given by Percy in the Reliques (unfortunately with some corrections, but these cannot have been many), is far superior, and one of the most beautiful of our ballads, and indeed of all ballads. 'Fair Margaret and Sweet William,' "a more pathetic story of the man who loves one woman and marries another," begins in the same way, with the last long talk before parting. The conclusion is that the forsaken maid dies of grief, not by the hand of her incensed rival, and it is most natural that the two stories should be blended in tradition, as they are here in E-H, B 31 ff, F 27 ff, G 24 ff, H 37 ff belonging to 'Fair Margaret and Sweet William.'
There is a copy of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor,' written over for the ballad-mongers, and of course much less in the popular style, in Pepys, IV, 48, No 45, and Roxburghe, II, 553, with the title 'The Unfortunate Forrester, or, Fair Eleanor's Tragedy.' In this Fair Ellinor stabs herself and Lord Thomas then kills himself with the same dagger.[2]
Norse ballads have the story of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,' coming very close in details. Those forms which are nearest to the English resemble more the mixed versions, B-H, than the simple, A-D. But in none of the Norse ballads is love thwarted because it stands upon the choice of friends. A man abandons a woman who is in all but the name his wife, and who regards herself, and is evidently regarded by others, as standing in no dishonorable relation to him. There is again a bifurcation in the catastrophe. The forsaken mistress submits and hangs herself in the one case, in the other she takes a fierce revenge. The latter conclusion may well, as Grundtvig holds, be the more original, but the ballads which have the other will here be put first, as being nearer to the English.
(1.) A. 'Herr Peder och Liten Kerstin,' Afzelius, I, 49, No 9, Grundtvig, IV, 219, Wigström, Folkdiktning, II, 5, broadsides of the eighteenth century and traditional copies derived therefrom. B. 'Herr Peders Slegfred,' broadside of the seventeenth century, Grundtvig, IV, 216, No 210; Danske Viser, III, 365, No 157; Kristensen, II, 177, No 52. C. A traditional fragment, Grundtvig, IV, 220, Bilag 2, from Cavallius and Stephens's collection. (2.) D. 'Liti Kerstis hevn,' Landstad, p. 559, No 67. E. Manuscript of the seventeenth century, Grundtvig, IV, 215. F. 'Liten Kerstins Hämd,' c. 1700, Arwidsson, I, 305, No 45.
Sir Peter and Liten Kerstin sit at table talking merrily, A, B, E. Peter informs Kerstin that he is to be married. She says she shall not fail to be present; he, that the wedding will be too far away for anybody to come. She shall come, if asked, though it be in Rome, B. If you come, says Peter, you must not wear your gold. She will wear it, for it was got by no dishonor, B, E. Peter rides off, Kerstin wrings her hands: alack for the maid that trusts a loon! He makes the preparations for his bridal, and she orders her clothes, which are of the richest description, all pearls and gold.[3] She has her horse shod, as in English, B 21, C 12, E 22. When she enters the hall, wives and maids stand up, B. She pours wine for the guests. The bride asks who she is, and is told that it is Sir Peter's mistress.[4] She has more gold on her kirtle's hem, says the bride, than all that Sir Peter owns. Why, if he had her, did he come seeking me? After the usual long delay the bride is conducted to the bride-house, Kerstin carrying the torch before her. Kerstin even puts the bride to bed. She leaves the room, saying, A, I trow I shall come here no more, goes into the orchard, and hangs herself with her hair. Sir Peter is informed of what has happened, rushes to the orchard, takes Kerstin down, has a grave dug deep and broad, sets his sword against a stone, and runs on it. The next day, as so often, there are three dead, Sir Peter, Kerstin, and the bride, A, B. In C, Peter hangs himself on the same tree.
Not so moving, but considerably more powerful and original, is the other termination of the story. In B, after Kerstin has lighted the bride to the bride-house, she draws a knife and kills Peter. She tells the bride that this should have been her death too, had she not spoken her so fair. In D, F, she sets fire to the house and burns the bride on the bridegroom's arm.
Sir Peter awakes, but he wakes not ere
The flame is playing in the young bride's hair.
Sir Peter springs from his bed, oer late;
He saw Little Kersti go out through the gate.
'Ah, dear Little Kersti, now help thou me!
Another time shall I help thee.'
And it was Little Kersti, her laugh he heard:
'I wot how well you keep your word.'[5]
A Southern ballad has something of the outline of the English and Norse, and sounds like a thin echo of them. A. Poésies populaires de la France, Manuscript, III, fol. 158, Burgundy. B. Buchon, Noëls et Chants p. de la Franche-Comté, p. 90, No 31, 'J'ai fait un rêve.' C. Beaurepaire, La Poésie p. en Normandie, p. 50. D. Ampère, Instructions, p. 34, Bretagne. E. Guillon, Chansons p. de l'Ain, p. 161, ' hante, rossignolet.' F. Arbaud, Chants p. de la Provence, II, 139, 'Lou premier Jour de Mai.' G. Ferraro, Canti p. monferrini, p. 8, No 7, 'Il primo amore.'
A youth is obliged by his father to give up his love for a bride who is less beautiful but richer. He has a dream that his love is dead, and carries her a rose, B, D. He invites her to the wedding: she will not come to the ceremony, but to the dance. She has three gowns made for the occasion, the third embroidered with gold, or of gold stuff. She falls dead while dancing: she falls on the right, he on the left. In G, after his love has died, the bridegroom draws his sword and kills himself. C and one copy of D have the phenomenon of the sympathetic plants, as in English A, B, E, F, G.
E 3 is a sort of commonplace when unequal matches are in question. So in a fragment in Herd's manuscripts, I, 55, II, 187:
'I hae nae houses, I hae nae lands,
I hae nae gowd or fee, Sir;
I am oer low to be your bryde,
Your loon I'll never be, Sir.'
And again Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 37. It is Lady Grey's answer to King Edward in the Third Part of Henry VI, III, 2:
'I know I am too mean to be your queen,
And yet too good to be your concubine.'
So Crescentia, the Koloczaer Codex, Mailáth u. Köffinger, p. 260, v. 565 ff.
With regard to B 20, 'I'll na put on the dowie green,' Kinloch remarks that green is considered unfortunate in love matters, the couplet running,
Green is love deen,
Yellow 's forsaken;
whereas blue is looked upon as a most fortunate color: "blue is love true." "To be married in a green colored dress is ominous of misfortune, for according to the proverb:
They that marry in green,
Their sorrow is soon seen.
And no young woman in the North would wear that color on her wedding day. An old lady of my acquaintance, whose marriage had proved unfortunate, used seriously to warn young women to beware of being married in green, for she attributed her own misfortunes solely to her having been married in a green gown, which she had put on contrary to the sage advice of her seniors, in whose minds the belief was more firmly rooted, and who had wished her to wear in its stead a blue dress, as being the more lucky color. To dance in green stockings is a proverbial phrase applied to an elder sister when the younger is first married, intimating that she may mourn her hapless fate, as she has now no chance of being married. To dream of green is believed to be the presage of misfortune." Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 15 f.
A is translated by Bodmer, II, 44, Doenniges, p. 125. D, Percy's copy, by Eschenburg, in Ursinus, Balladen und Lieder, 1777, p. 69; by Bodmer, I, 106; by Talvj, Versuch u.s.w., p. 497; Döring, p. 191; Doenniges, p. 121; Arentsschild, Albion u. Erin, p. 535; von Marées, p. 36; Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Alt-Englands, p. 175, No 47; Loève-Veimars, p. 123.
Norse A is translated by W. and M. Howitt, Literature and Romance of Northern Europe, I, 258; B by Prior, III, 363.
Footnotes:
1. I have been enabled to restore the original readings by the ever ready kindness of Professor Skeat.
2. London, printed for W. T[hackeray], T. P[assenger], and W.W. [Whitwood ?]. This impression is therefore contemporary with the other.
3. In D, E she borrows the fine things of her sister. Minute particulars are given in D. We all wonder how Fair Annet, whose face should be her fortune, comes by so much. Her horse's shoes and bells would have made her a nice little dowry; and then she has, F 20, as much gold above her brow as would buy an earldom, like the oriental Susie Py. This comes of a reckless use of commonplaces, without regard to keeping.
4. Some of the versions have traits of 'Fair Annie.' In F the woman is a king's sister, and is not living with Sir Peter.
5. Herre Per vaknað inki för dá
at login leikað i Áselitis hár.
Herre Per springe han up af si seng,
dá sag ban, liti Kersti pá gate geng.
'Aa kære liti Kersti, no hjölper du meg!
en an nen sinn skal eg hjölpe deg.'
Og deð var liti Kersti, sa högt hon lóg:
'eg veit du helde sá vel dit órð!'
Landstad, 33-36.
Upon which the good pastor, who loved the things nevertheless, remarks, What a culpable style of life, what moral depravation, many of these ballads depict!
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
The English version of this ballad, 'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor' (D), given, with alterations, in Percy's Reliques, III, 82, 1765, is a broadside of Charles the Second's time and licensed by L'Estrange, who was censor from 1663 to 1685. This copy has become traditional in Scotland and Ireland. The Scottish traditional copy, A, given by Percy in the Reliques (unfortunately with some corrections, but these cannot have been many), is far superior, and one of the most beautiful of all ballads. 'Fair Margaret and Sweet William' (No. 74) begins in the same way, but the conclusion is that the forsaken maid dies of grief, not by the hand of her incensed rival. It is most natural that the two stories should be blended in tradition, as they are here in I (and in versions B-H). Sts. 31 ff. of I belong to 'Fair Margaret and Sweet William' (No. 74). Norse ballads (see Grundtvig, IV, 219) have the story of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet,' coming very close in details. Those forms which are nearest to the English resemble more the mixed versions than the simple version A. A southern ballad has something of the outline of the English and Norse, and sounds like a thin echo of them.
Child's Ballad Texts
'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet'- Version A; Child 73 'Lord Thomas and Fair Annet' Percy's Reliques, 1765, II, 293; III, 240, ed. 1767.
1 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Sate a' day on a hill;
Whan night was cum, and sun was sett,
They had not talkt their fill.
2 Lord Thomas said a word in jest,
Fair Annet took it ill:
'A, I will nevir wed a wife
Against my ain friends' will.'
3 'Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee:'
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee.
4 'O rede, O rede, mither,' he says,
'A gude rede gie to mee;
O sall I tak the nut-browne bride,
And let Fair Annet bee?'
5 'The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear,
Fair Annet she has gat nane;
And the little beauty Fair Annet haes
O it wull soon be gane.'
6 And he has till his brother gane:
'Now, brother, rede ye mee;
A, sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And let Fair Annet bee?'
7 'The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother,
The nut-browne bride has kye;
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And cast Fair Annet bye.'
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And cast Fair Annet bye.'
8 'Her oxen may dye i the house, billie,
And her kye into the byre,
And I sall hae nothing to mysell
Bot a fat fadge by the fyre.'
9 And he has till his sister gane:
'Now, sister, rede ye mee;
O sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And set Fair Annet free?'
10 'I'se rede ye tak Fair Annet, Thomas,
And let the browne bride alane;
Lest ye sould sigh, and say, Alace,
What is this we brought hame!'
11 'No, I will tak my mither's counsel,
And marrie me owt o hand;
And I will tak the nut-browne bride,
Fair Annet may leive the land.'
12 Up then rose Fair Annet's father,
Twa hours or it wer day,
And he is gane into the bower
Wherein Fair Annet lay.
13 'Rise up, rise up, Fair Annet,' he says,
'Put on your silken sheene;
Let us gae to St. Marie's kirke,
And see that rich weddeen.'
14 'My maides, gae to my dressing-roome,
And dress to me my hair;
'My maides, gae to my dressing-roome,
And dress to me my hair;
Whaireir yee laid a plait before,
See yee lay ten times mair.
15 'My maids, gae to my dressing-room,
And dress to me my smock;
The one half is o the holland fine,
The other o needle-work.'
16 The horse Fair Annet rade upon,
He amblit like the wind;
Wi siller he was shod before,
Wi burning gowd behind.
17 Four and twanty siller bells
Wer a' tyed till his mane,
And yae tift o the norland wind,
They tinkled ane by ane.
18 Four and twanty gay gude knichts
Rade by Fair Annet's side,
And four and twanty fair ladies,
As gin she had bin a bride.
19 And whan she cam to Marie's kirk,
She sat on Marie's stean:
The cleading that Fair Annet had on
It skinkled in their een.
20 And whan she cam into the kirk,
She shimmerd like the sun;
The belt that was about her waist
Was a' wi pearles bedone.
21 She sat her by the nut-browne bride,
And her een they wer sae clear,
Lord Thomas he clean forgat the bride,
Whan Fair Annet drew near.
22 He had a rose into his hand,
He gae it kisses three,
And reaching by the nut-browne bride,
Laid it on Fair Annet's knee.
23 Up than spak the nut-browne bride,
She spak wi meikle spite:
'And whair gat ye that rose-water,
That does mak yee sae white?'
24 'O I did get the rose-water
Whair ye wull neir get nane,
For I did get that very rose-water
Into my mither's wame.'
25 The bride she drew a long bodkin
Frae out her gay head-gear,
And strake Fair Annet unto the heart,
That word spak nevir mair.
26 Lord Thomas he saw Fair Annet wex pale,
And marvelit what mote bee;
But whan he saw her dear heart's blude,
A' wood-wroth wexed hee.
27 He drew his dagger, that was sae sharp,
That was sae sharp and meet,
And drave it into the nut-browne bride,
That fell deid at his feit.
28 'Now stay for me, dear Annet,' he sed,
'Now stay, my dear,' he cry'd;
Then strake the dagger untill his heart,
And fell deid by her side.
29 Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa,
Fair Annet within the quiere,
And o the tane thair grew a birk,
The other a bonny briere.
30 And ay they grew, and ay they threw,
As they wad faine be neare;
And by this ye may ken right weil
They were twa luvers deare.
----------
The Nut-Brown Bride- Version B; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 1, from the recitation of Mary Barr, Lesmahago.
1 Sweet Willie and Fair Annie
Sat a' day on yon hill;
Though they had sat til the leventh o June,
They wad na got their fill.
2 But Willie spak a word amiss,
Fair Annie took it ill:
'I'll neer marry a tocherless lass
Agen my ain friends' will.'
3 Then on she lap, and awa she gat,
As fast as she could hie:
'Fare ye weel now, Sweet Willie,
It's fare ye weel a wee.'
4 Then he is gane to his father's ha,
And tirled at the pin;
Then up and rase his father proud.
And loot Sweet Willie in.
5 'Come riddle us, riddle us, father dear,
Yea both of us into ane;
Whether sall I marry Fair Annie,
Or bring the brown bride hame?'
6 'The brown bride she has houses and land,
And Annie she has nane;
Sae on my blessing, my auld son,
Bring ye Brown Bride hame.'
7 Then he is to his mither's bouer,
And tirled at the pin;
Then up and rose his mother dear
To let Sweet Willie in.
8 'Come riddle us, riddle us, mother dear,
Yea baith o us into ane;
Whether sall I marry Fair Annie,
Or bring the brown bride hame?'
9 'The brown bride she has gowd and gear,
Fair Annie she has nane;
And for my blessing, my auld son,
Bring ye Brown Bride hame.'
10 Then he is to his sister's bouer,
And tirled at the pin;
And wha sae ready as his sister dear
To let her brither in.
11 'Come riddle us, riddle us, sister fair,
Us baith yea into ane;
Whether sall I marry Fair Annie,
Or bring the brown bride hame?'
12 'The brown bride she has horse and kye,
And Annie she has nane;
But for my love, my brither dear,
Bring hame the fair woman.
13 'Your horse may dee into the staw,
The kye into the byre,
And ye'll hae nocht but a howther o dirt,
To feed about your fire.'
14 Then he is to Fair Annie's bouer,
And tirled at the pin;
And wha sae ready as Fair Annie
To let Sweet Willie in.
15 'You're welcome here to me, Willie,
You're welcome here to me:'
'I'm na welcome to thee, Annie,
I'm na welcome to thee,
For I'm come to bid ye to my wedding,
It's gey sad news to thee.'
16 'It's gey sad news to me, Willie,
The saddest ye could tell;
It's gey sad news to me, Willie,
That shoud been bride mysel.'
17 Then she is to her father gane,
And bowed low on her knee:
. . . . .
. . . . .
18 'Come riddle us, riddle us, father dear,
Us baith yea into ane;
Whether sall I gang to Willie's wedding,
Or sall I stay at hame?'
19 'Whare ane will be your frien, Annie,
Twenty will be your fae;'
'But prove it gude, or prove it bad,
To Willie's wedding I'll gae.
20 'I'll na put on the grisly black,
Nor yet the dowie green,
But I'll put on a scarlet robe
To sheen like onie queen.'
21 She's orderd the smiths to the smithy,
To shoe her a riding steed;
She has orderd the tailors to her bouer,
To dress her a riding weed.
22 She has calld her maries to her bour,
To lay gowd on her hair:
'Whare e'er ye put ae plait before,
See ye lay ten times mair.'
23 The steed Fair Annie rade upon,
He bounded like the wind;
Wi silver he was shod before,
Wi burning gowd behind.
24 And four and twenty siller bells
War ti d til his mane;
Wi ae blast o the norland wind
They tinkled ane by ane.
25 And whan she cam unto the place,
And lichted on the green,
Ilka ane that did her see
Thought that she was a queen.
26 'Is this your bride, Sweet Willie?' she said,
'I think she's wondrous wan;
Ye micht have had as fair a bride
As eer the sun sheend on.'
27 'O haud your tongue, Fair Annie,' he said,
'Wi your talk let me abee;
For better I loe your little finger
Than the brown bride's haill bodie.'
28 Then out and spak the nut-brown bride,
And she spak out of spite:
'O whare gat ye the water, Annie,
That washd your face sae white?'
29 'O I gat een the water,' quo she,
'Whare ye will neer get nane;
It's I gat een the water,' quo she,
'Aneath yon marble stane.'
30 Then out and spake the nut-brown bride,
And she spak yet again:
'O whare gat ye the claith, Annie,
That dried your face sae clean?'
31 'O I gat een the claith,' quo she,
'Whare ye will neer get nane;
It's I gat een the claith,' quo she,
'Aneath yon bouer o bane.'
32 The brown bride had a little penknife,
Which she kept secret there;
She stabbd Fair Annie to the heart,
A deep wound and a sair.
33 It's out and spak he Sweet Willie,
And he spak yet again:
'O what's the matter wi thee, Annie,
That ye do look sae wan?'
34 'Oh are ye blind, Willie?' she said,
'Or do ye no weel see?
I think ye micht see my heart's blude,
Come rinning by my knee.'
35 Then Willie took a little sword,
Which he kept secret there,
And strak the brown bride to the heart,
A word she neer spak mair.
36 And after that a' this was dune,
He drew it through the strae,
And through his ain fair bodie
He causd the cauld iron gae.
37 The last words that Sweet Willie spak,
His heart was almaist gane;
'May never a young man like me
Have sic a sad wedding.
38 'For gear will come, and gear will gang,
And gear's ae but a lend,
And monie a ane for warld's gear
A silly brown bride brings hame.'
And monie a ane for warld's gear
A silly brown bride brings hame.'
39 Sweet Willie was buried in Mary's kirk,
And Annie in Mary's quire,
And out o the ane there grew a birk,
And out o the ither a brier.
40 And ae they grew, and ae they threw,
Until the twa did meet,
That ilka ane micht plainly see
They were true lovers sweet
-----------
The Brown Bride and Lord Thomas- Version C; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 157, from the recitation of Agnes Laird, Kilbarchan, 1825.
1 'Come read my rede, O mother dear,
Come riddle it all in one;
O whether will I take Fair Annie,
Or bring the brown bride home?'
2 'The brown, brown bride has kye and ewes,
Fair Annie she has none;
She has nothing but a bonny, bonny face,
And that'll soon be gone.'
3 'Where will I get a pretty little boy,
That'll rin my errands soon,
That will rin to Fair Annie's bower,
And bid her to my wedding?'
4 'Here am I, a pretty little boy,
That'll rin your errands soon,
That will rin to Fair Annie's bower,
And bid her to your wedding.'
5 'Forbid her to put on her silks so black,
Or yet her silks so brown;
But she must put on her suddled silks,
That she wears up and down.
6 'Forbid her to put on her silks so green,
Or yet her sils so gray;
But she must put on her suddled silks,
That she wears every day.'
7 When he gade to Fair Annie's bower,
He tirled at the pin;
So ready was Fair Annie hersell
To open and let him in.
8 'What news, what news, my little boy?
What news hast thou to me?'
'You must prepare for Lord Thomas' wedding,
And that's bad news for thee.'
9 'Good news, good news,' Fair Annie says,
'Good news is it for me,
For me to be bride and him bridegroom,
And that's good news for me.'
10 'He forbids thee to put on thy silks so black,
Or yet thy silks so brown;
But thou must put on thy suddled silks,
That thou wears up and down.
11 'He forbids you to put on thy silks so green,
Or yet thy silks so gray;
But thou must on thy suddled silks,
That thou wears every day.'
12 'There are smiths into my smiddy-bour
That'll dress to me a steed,
There are tailors in my tailor-house
That'll dress to me a weed.
13 'There are maidens in my maiden-bower
That'll lay gold in my hair,
And where eer there were ane link before,
It shall be nine times mair.'
14 Then Annie got herself attired,
In all things very fine,
With red ribbons, and silks so fair,
That owre her shoulders shine.
15 When she came to Lord Thomas' yett,
She shined amang them a',
And the buttons on Lord Thomas' coat
Brusted and brak in twa.
16 'Brown, brown is your steed,' she says,
'But browner is your bride;
But gallant is that handkerchy
That hideth her din hide.'
17 'O hold thy peace, Fair Annie,' he says,
'Speak not of that to me,
For happy is that bonny, bonny lad
That leads his life with thee.'
18 Then out bespoke the brown, brown bride,
And she spoke out with spite:
'O whare gets thou that water-cherry,
That washes thee so white?'
19 'I got in my father's garden,
Below an olive tree,
And although thou war to seek long seven years
That water thou'll never see.
20 'Tho thou hast got Lord Thomas' hand
That water thou'll neer see;
For thou's sunbrunt from thy mother's womb,
And thou'll never be like me.'
* * * * *
-----------
'Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor'- Version D a; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
a. Pepys Ballads, III, 316, No 312.
b. A Collection of Old Ballads, I, 249, 1723.
c. Ritson, Select Collection of English Songs, II, 187, 1783.
d. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 86.
e. Recited copy.
f. Recited copy.
g. Recited copy.
h. Recited copy.
i. Recited copy.
1 Lord Thomas he was a bold forrester,
And a chaser of the king's deer;
Fair Ellinor was a fair woman,
And Lord Thomas he loved her dear.
2 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' he said,
'And riddle us both as one,
Whether I shall marry Fair Ellinor,
And let the brown girl alone.'
3 'The brown girl she has got houses and lands,
And Fair Ellinor she has got none;
Therefore I charge you on my blessing
To bring me the brown girl home.'
4 And as it befell on a high holidaye,
As many did more beside,
Lord Thomas he went to Fair Ellinor,
That should have been his bride.
5 But when he came to Fair Ellinor's bower,
He knocked there at the ring;
But who was so ready as Fair Ellinor
For to let Lord Thomas in.
6 'What news, what news, Lord Thomas,' she said,
'What news hast thou brought unto me?'
'I am come to bid thee to my wedding,
And that is bad news to thee.'
7 'Oh God forbid, Lord Thomas,' she said,
'That such a thing should be done;
I thought to have been thy bride my own self,
And you to have been the brid's-groom.
8 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' she sayd,
'And riddle it all in one;
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or whether I shall tarry at home.'
9 'There's many that are your friends, daughter,
And many that are your fo;
Therefore I charge you on my blessing,
To Lord Thomas's wedding don't go.'
10 'There's many that are my friends, mother,
If a thousand more were my foe,
Betide my life, betide my death,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'le go.'
11 She cloathed herself in gallant attyre,
And her merry men all in green,
And as they rid thorough everye towne,
They took her to have been a queene.
12 But when she came to Lord Thomas's gate,
She knocked there at the ring;
But who was so ready as Lord Thomas
To lett Fair Ellinor in.
13 'Is this your bride?' Fair Ellin she sayd,
'Methinks she looks wondrous browne;
Thou mightest have had as fair a woman
As ever trod on the ground.'
14 'Despise her not, Fair Ellin,' he sayd,
'Despise her not now unto mee;
For better I love thy little finger
Than all her whole body.'
15 This browne bride had a little penknife,
That was both long and sharp,
And betwixt the short ribs and the long
Prickd Fair Ellinor to the heart.
16 'Oh Christ now save thee,' Lord Thomas he said,
'Methinks thou lookst wondrous wan;
Thou wast usd for to look with as fresh a colour
As ever the sun shin'd on.'
17 'Oh art thou blind, Lord Thomas?' she sayd,
'Or canst thou not very well see?
Oh dost thou not see my own heart's blood
Runs trickling down my knee?'
18 Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side,
As he walked about the hall;
He cut off his bride's head from her shoulders,
And he threw it against the wall.
19 He set the hilte against the ground,
And the point against his heart;
There was never three lovers that ever met
More sooner they did depart.
-----------
Sweet Willie and Fair Annie- Version E; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 22, from the recitation of Mrs. W. Arrot, of Aberhrothick, as learned by her when a child from an elderly maid-servant.
1 Sweet Willie and Fair Annie
Sat a' day on a hill,
And though they had sitten seven year,
They neer wad had their fill.
2 Sweet Willie said a word in haste,
And Annie took it ill:
'I winna wed a tocherless maid,
Against my parents' will.'
3 'Ye're come o the rich, Willie,
And I'm come o the poor;
I'm oer laigh to be your bride,
And I winna be your whore.'
4 O Annie she's gane till her bower,
And Willie down the den,
And he's come till his mither's bower,
By the lei light o the moon.
5 'O sleep ye, wake ye, mither?' he says,
'Or are ye the bower within?'
'I sleep richt aft, I wake richt aft;
What want ye wi me, son?
6 'Whare hae ye been a' nicht, Willie?
O wow, ye've tarried lang!'
'I have been courtin Fair Annie,
And she is frae me gane.
7 'There is twa maidens in a bower;
Which o them sall I bring hame?
The nut-brown maid has sheep and cows,
And Fair Annie has nane.'
8 'It's an ye wed the nut-brown maid,
I'll heap gold wi my hand;
But an ye wed her Fair Annie,
I'll straik it wi a wand.
9 'The nut-brown maid has sheep and cows,
And Fair Annie has nane;
And Willie, for my benison,
The nut-brown maid bring hame.'
10 'O I sall wed the nut-brown maid,
And I sall bring her hame;
But peace nor rest between us twa,
Till death sinder's again.
11 'But, alas, alas!' says Sweet Willie,
'O fair is Annie's face!'
'But what's the matter, my son Willie?
She has nae ither grace.'
12 'Alas, alas!' says Sweet Willie,
'But white is Annie's hand!'
'But what's the matter, my son Willie?
She hasna a fur o land.'
13 'Sheep will die in cots, mither,
And owsen die in byre;
And what's this warld's wealth to me,
An I get na my heart's desire?
14 'Whare will I get a bonny boy,
That wad fain win hose and shoon,
That will rin to Fair Annie's bower,
Wi the lei light o the moon?
15 'Ye'll tell her to come to Willie's weddin,
The morn at twal at noon;
Ye'll tell her to come to Willie's weddin,
The heir o Duplin town.
16 'She manna put on the black, the black,
Nor yet the dowie brown,
But the scarlet sae red, and the kerches sae white,
And her bonny locks hangin down.'
17 He is on to Annie's bower,
And tirled at the pin,
And wha was sae ready as Annie hersel
To open and let him in.
18 'Ye are bidden come to Willie's weddin,
The morn at twal at noon;
Ye are bidden come to Willie's weddin,
The heir of Duplin town.
19 'Ye manna put on the black, the black,
Nor yet the dowie brown,
But the scarlet sae red, and the kerches sae white,
And your bonny locks hangin down.'
20 'It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
The morn at twal at noon;
It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
But I rather the mass had been mine.
21 'Maidens, to my bower come,
And lay gold on my hair;
And whare ye laid ae plait before,
Ye'll now lay ten times mair.
22 'Taylors, to my bower come,
And mak to me a weed;
And smiths, unto my stable come,
And shoe to me a steed.'
23 At every tate o Annie's horse mane
There hang a silver bell,
And there came a wind out frae the south,
Which made them a' to knell.
24 And whan she came to Mary-kirk,
And sat down in the deas,
The light that came frae Fair Annie
Enlightend a' the place.
25 But up and stands the nut-brown bride,
Just at her father's knee:
'O wha is this, my father dear,
That blinks in Willie's ee?'
'O this is Willie's first true-love,
Before he loved thee.'
26 'If that be Willie's first true-love,
He might hae latten me be;
She has as much gold on ae finger
As I'll wear till I die.
27 'O whare got ye that water, Annie,
That washes you sae white?'
'I got it in my mither's wambe,
Whare ye'll neer get the like.
28 'For ye've been washd in Dunny's well,
And dried on Dunny's dyke,
And a' the water in the sea
Will never wash ye white.'
29 Willie's taen a rose out o his hat,
Laid it in Annie's lap:
. . . . .
'Hae, wear it for my sake.'
30 'Tak up and wear your rose, Willie,
And wear't wi mickle care;
For the woman sall never bear a son
That will make my heart sae sair.'
31 Whan night was come, and day was gane,
And a' man boun to bed,
Sweet Willie and the nut-brown bride
In their chamber were laid.
32 They werena weel lyen down,
And scarcely fa'n asleep,
Whan up and stands she Fair Annie,
Just up at Willie's feet.
33 'Weel brook ye o your brown, brown bride,
Between ye and the wa;
And sae will I o my winding sheet,
That suits me best ava.
34 'Weel brook ye o your brown, brown bride,
Between ye and the stock;
And sae will I o my black, black kist,
That has neither key nor lock.'
35 Sad Willie raise, put on his claise,
Drew till him his hose and shoon,
And he is on to Annie's bower,
By the lei light o the moon.
36 The firsten bower that he came till,
There was right dowie wark;
Her mither and her three sisters
Were makin to Annie a sark.
37 The nexten bower that he came till,
There was right dowie cheir;
Her father and her seven brethren
Were makin to Annie a bier.
38 The lasten bower that he came till,
. . . . .
. . . . .
And Fair Annie streekit there.
39 He's lifted up the coverlet,
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
40 'It's I will kiss your bonny cheek,
And I will kiss your chin,
And I will kiss your clay-cald lip,
But I'll never kiss woman again.
41 'The day ye deal at Annie's burial
The bread but and the wine;
Before the morn at twall o'clock,
They'll deal the same at mine.'
42 The tane was buried in Mary's kirk,
The tither in Mary's quire,
And out o the tane there grew a birk,
And out o the tither a brier.
43 And ay they grew, and ay the drew,
Untill they twa did meet,
And every ane that past them by
Said, Thae's been lovers sweet!
-----------
Sweet Willie and Fair Annie- Version F; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 127, stanzas 1-17; the remainder in Dr. John Hill Burton's papers. Another copy in Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 339. Both in Dr. Burton's handwriting.
1 Sweet Willie and Fair Annie,
As they sat on yon hill,
If they hed sat frae morn till even,
They hed no talked their fill.
* * * * *
2 Willie's dune him hame again,
As fast as gang could he:
'An askin, an askin, my mother,
And I pray ye'll grant it me.
3 'Oh will I merry the nut-brown maid,
Wi her oxen and her kye?
Or will I merry my Fair Annie,
That hes my heart for aye?'
4 'Oh if ye merry your Fair Annie,
Your mither's malison you'll wun;
But if ye merry the nut-brown may,
Ye will get her blessin.'
5 'Oh voe's me, mother,' Willie said,
'For Annie's bonny face!'
'Little metter o that, my son Willie,
When Annie hesna grace.'
6 'Oh voe's me, mither,' Willie said,
'For Annie's bonny han!'
'And what's the metter, son Willie,
When Annie hesna lan?
7 'But ye will merry the nut-brown may,
Wi her oxen and her kye;
But ye will merry the nut-brown may,
For she hes my hert for aye.'
8 Out and spak his sister Jane,
Where she sat be the fire:
'What's the metter, brother Willie?
Tack ye your heart's desire.
9 'The oxen may die into the pleuch,
The cow drown i the myre;
And what's the metter, brother Willie?
Tak ye your heart's desire.'
10 'Whare will I get a bonny boy,
That will wun hose and shune,
That will run on to Anny's bower,
And come right sune again?'
11 'Ye'll bid her come to Willie's weddin,
The morn is the day;
Ye'll bid her come to Willie's weddin,
And no make no delay.
12 'Ye'll forbid her to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie brown;
But the white silk and the reed skarlet,
That will shine frae town to town.'
13 He is on to Anie's bower,
And tirled at the pin,
And wha was sae ready as Annie hersel
To let the ladie in.
14 'Ye'r bidden to come to Willie's weddin,
The morn is the day;
Ye'r bidden come to Willie's weddin,
And no mack no delay.
15 'Ye'r forbidden to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie brown;
But the white silk and the red scarlet,
That will shine frae town to town.
16 'Ye'r forbidden to put on the black, the black,
Or yet the dowie gray;
But the white silk and the red scarlet,
That will shine frae brae to brae.'
17 'It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
Gif the morn be the day;
It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
And no mack no delay.'
18 Annie's steed was silver shod,
And golden graithed behin;
At every teet o her horse mane
A silver bell did ring.
19 When Annie was in her sadle set,
She glanced like the moon;
There was as much gould abov her brow
Would buy an earldom.
20 When Annie was on her sadel set,
She glanced like the fire;
There was as much gould above her brow
Was worth a yearl's hire.
21 Annie gaed in the heigh, heigh hill,
And Willie the dowie glen;
Annie alane shone brighter
Than Willie and a' his men.
22 'Oh wha is that, my ane Willie,
That glances in your ee?'
'Oh it is Annie, my first fore love,
Come till see you and me.'
23 'Oh far got ye that water, Annie,
That washes ye so wan?'
'Oh I got it aneth yon marble stane,
Where ye will nere get nane.
24 'Ye've been brunt sare anent the sun,
And rocket i the reek;
And tho ye wad wash till doom's day,
Ye wad never be so white.'
25 'If this be Annie, your first fore love,
Come our weddin to see,
She has by far owr brent a brow
To lat ye bide by me.'
26 When bells were rung, and mass was sung,
And a' men bun to bed,
Sweet Willie and his nut-brown bride
In ae chamber were laid.
27 The hedna weel layn down, layn down,
But nor hed fallen asleep,
When up and started Fair Annie,
And stud at Willie's feet.
28 'Vo be to you, nut-brown bride,
Wi yer oxen and your sheep!
It is Annie, my first fore love,
And I fear sair she is dead.
29 'Vo be te you, nut-brown bride,
An ill death you betide!
For you've parted me and my first fore love,
And I fear death is her guide.
30 'You'll seddle to me the black, the black,
You'll seddle to me the brown,
Till I ride on to Annie's bower
And see how she is bune.'
31 When he came to Fair Annie's bower,
And lighted and gaed in,
. . . . . .
. . . . .
32 Her father was at her heed, her heed,
Her mother at her feet,
Her sister she was at her side,
Puttin on her winding sheet.
33 'It's kiss will I yer cheek, Annie,
And kiss will I your chin,
And I will kiss your wan, wan lips,
Tho there be no breath within.
34 'Ye birl, ye birle at my luve's wake
The white bread and the wine,
And or the morn at this same time
Ye'll brile the same at mine.'
35 They birled, they birled at Annies wake
The white bread and the wine,
And ere the morn at that same time
At his they birled the same.
36 The one was buried at Mary's kirk,
The other at Mary's quire,
And throw the one there sprang a birk,
And throw the other a brier.
37 And ay at every year's ane
They grew them near and near,
And every one that passed them by
Said, They be lovers dear.
-------
[Sweet Willie and Fair Annie]- Version G; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Annet
Skene Manuscript, p. 104; northeast of Scotland, 1802-03.
1 Sweet Willie and Fair Annie,
They sat on yon hill,
And frae the morning till night
This twa neer talked their fill.
2 Willie spak a word in jest,
And Ann took it ill:
'We's court na mare maidens,
Against our parent's will.'
3 'It's na against our parent's will,'
Fair Annie she did say,
. . . . .
. . . . .
4 Willie is hame to his bower,
To his book all alane,
And Fair Annie is to her bower,
To her book and her seam.
5 Sweet Willie is to his mother dear,
Fell low down on his knee:
'An asking, my mother dear,
And ye grant it to me;
O will I marry the nut-brown may,
An lat Fair Annie gae?'
6 'The nut-brown may has ousen, Willie,
The nut-brown may has key;
An ye will winn my blessing, Willie,
And latt Fair Annie be.'
7 He did him to his father dear,
Fell low down on his knee:
'An asking, my father,
An ye man grant it me.'
8 'Ask on, my ae son Willie,
Ye'r sur yer askin's free;
Except it is to marry her Fair Annie,
And that manna be.'
9 Out spak his little sister,
As she [sat] by the fire:
'The ox-leg will brack in the plough,
And the cow will drown in the mire.
10 'An Willie will ha nathing
But the dam to sitt by the fire;
Fair Annie will sit in her beagly bower,
An winn a earl's hire.'
11 'Fair faa ye, my little sister,
A guid dead mat ye die!
An ever I hae goud,
Well tochered sall ye be.'
12 He's awa to Fair Annie,
As fast as gan could he:
'O will ye come to my marriage?
The morn it is to be.'
13 'O I will come to yer marriage,
The morn, gin I can win.'
. . . . .
. . . . .
14 Annie did her to her father dear,
Fell down on her knee:
'An askin, my father,
And ye man grant it me;
Lat me to Sweet Willie's marriage,
The morn it is to be.'
15 'Yer horse sall be siller shod afore,
An guid red goud ahin,
An bells in his mane,
To ring against the win.'
16 She did her to her mother dear,
Fell down on her knee:
'Will ye lat me to Willie's marriage?
The morn it is to be;'
'I'll lat ye to Willie's marriage,
An we the morn see.'
17 Whan Annie was in her saddle set
She flam'd against the fire;
The girdle about her sma middle
Wad a won an earl's hire.
18 Whan they came to Mary kirk,
And on to Mary quire,
'O far gat ye that watter, Ann,
That washes ye sae clear?'
19 'I got it in my father's garden,
Aneth a marbell stane;
. . . . .
. . . . .
20 'O whar gat ye that water, Annie,
That washes ye sae fite?'
'I gat it in my mother's womb,
Whar ye['s] never get the like.
21 'For ye ha been christned wi moss-water,
An roked in the reak,
An ser brunt in yer mither's womb,
For I think ye'll neer be fite.'
22 The nut-brown bride pat her hand in
. . . at Annie['s] left ear,
And gin her . . . .
A deep wound and a sare.
23 Than . . Annie ged on her horse back,
An fast away did ride,
But lang or cock's crowing,
Fair Annie was dead.
24 Whan bells were rung, and mess was sung,
An a' man boun to bed,
Sweet Willie and the nut-brown bride
In a chamber were laid.
25 But up and wakend him Sweet Willie
Out of his dreary dream:
'I dreamed a dream this night,
God read a' dream to guid!
26 'That Fair Annies bowr was full of gentlemen,
An herself was dead;
But I will on to Fair Annie,
An si't if it be guid.'
27 Seven lang mile or he came near,
He heard a dolefull chear,
Her father and her seven brithern,
Walking at her bier;
The half of it guid red goud,
The other silver clear.
28 'Ye deal at my love's leak
The white bread an the wine;
But on the morn at this time
Ye's dee the like at mine.'
29 The ane was buried at Mary kirk,
The ither at Mary quire;
Out of the ane grew a birk,
Out of the ither a briar.
30 An aye the langer that they grew,
They came the ither near,
An by that ye might a well kent
They were twa lovers dear.
---------
Fair Annie and Sweet Willie- Version H; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Fair Annet
Gibb Manuscript, p. 64.
1 Fair Annie and Sweet Willie,
As they talked on yon hill,
Though they had talked a lang summer day,
They wad na hae talked their fill.
2 'If you would be a good woman, Annie,
An low leave a' your pride,
In spite of a' my friends, Annie,
I wad mak you my bride.'
3 'Thick, thick lie your lands, Willie,
An thin, thin lie mine;
An little wad a' your friends think
O sic a kin as mine.
4 'Thick, thick lie your lands, Willie,
Down by the coving-tree;
An little wad a' your friends think
O sic a bride as me.
5 'O Fair Annie, O Fair Annie,
This nicht ye've said me no;
But lang or ever this day month
I'll make your heart as sore.'
6 It's Willie he went home that night,
An a sick man lay he down;
An ben came Willie's auld mither,
An for nae gude she came.
* * * * *
7 'It's if ye marry Fair Annie,
My malison ye's hae;
But if ye marry the nut-brown may,
My blessin an ye's hae.'
8 'Mother, for your malison,
An mother, for your wis,
It's I will marry the nut-brown may,
. . . . .
9 . . . . .
. . . . .
It's up an spak his sister,
. . . . .
10 'The owsen may hang in the pleugh,
The kye drown in the myre,
An he'll hae naething but a dirty drab
To sit doun by the fire.'
* * * * *
11 'Where will I get a bonny boy,
That will win hose and shoon,
That will rin on to Annie's bower,
An haste him back again?'
12 'It's I have run your errands, Willie,
An happy hae I been;
It's I will rin your errands, Willie,
Wi the saut tears in my een.'
13 'When ye come to Annie's bower,
She will be at her dine;
And bid her come to Willie's weddin,
On Monday in good time.
14 'Tell her neither to put on the dowie black,
Nor yet the mournfu brown,
But the gowd sae reed, and the silver white,
An her hair weel combed down.
15 'Tell her to get a tailor to her bower,
To shape for her a weed,
And a smith to her smithy,
To shoe for her a steed.
16 'To be shod wi silver clear afore,
An gold graithed behind,
An every foot the foal sets down,
The gold lie on the ground.'
17 It's when he came to Annie's bower,
It's she was at her dine:
'Ye're bidden come to Willie's weddin,
On Monday in good time.
18 'You're neither to put on the dowie black,
Nor get the mournfu brown,
But the gowd sae reid, an the silver white,
An yere hair well combed doun.
19 'You're to get a tailor to your bower,
To shape for you a weed,
And likewise a smith to your smithy,
To shoe for you a steed.
20 'To be shod with silver clear afore,
An gold graithed behind,
An every foot the foal sets down,
The gold lie on the ground.'
21 'It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
I rather it had been mine;
It's I will come to Willie's weddin,
On Monday in good time.
22 'It's I'll send to Willie a toweld silk,
To hing below his knee.
An ilka time he looks on it,
He'll hae gude mind o me.
* * * * *
23 'An askin, father, an askin,
An I hope you will grant me;
For it is the last askin
That ever I'll ask of thee.'
24 'Ask me, Annie, gold,' he said,
'An ask me, Annie, fee,
But dinna ask me Sweet Willie,
Your bedfellow to be.'
25 'It's I will ask you gold, father,
Sae will I ask you fee,
But I needna ask you Sweet Willie,
My bedfellow to be.
26 'For I am bidden to Willie's weddin,
On Monday in good time,
. . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
27 On every tait o her horse's mane
A siller bell did hing,
An on every tait o her horse's tail
A golden bell did ring.
28 Twal and twal rade her afore,
An twal an twal ahind,
An twal an twal on every side,
To hold her frae the wind.
29 Fair Annie shined mair on the top o the hill
Than Willie did in the glen;
Fair Annie shined mair on the heid o the hill
Than Willie wi a' his men.
30 Whan she came to Mary's kirk,
She lighted on the stane;
An when she came to the kirk-door,
She bade the bride gae in.
31 'Clear, clear is your day, Willie,
But brown, brown is your bride;
Clear, clear is her lawn curches,
But weel dunned is her hide.'
32 'Where got ye yon water, Annie,
That has made you so white?'
'I got it in my father's garden,
Below yon hollan dyke.
33 'But ye hae been washed i the moss water,
An rocked in the reek;
Ye hae been brunt in your mither's wame,
An ye will neer be white.'
34 'Whatna fool were ye, Willie,
To lay your love on me;
She's mair gowd on her heid this day
Than I'll wear till I die!'
35 'I've laid nae love on you, brown may,
I've laid nae love on you;
I've mair love for Fair Annie this day
Than I'll hae for you till I dee.'
* * * * *
36 'If you will neither eat nor drink,
You'll see good game an play;'
But she turned her horse head to the hill,
An swift she rode away.
* * * * *
37 When they were all at supper set,
. . . . .
Till he went to Fair Annie's bower,
By the ley licht o the mune.
38 An when he came to Annie's bower,
Annie was lying deid,
An seven o Annie's sisters an sisters' bairns
Were sewing at Annie's weed.
39 'It's I will take your hand, Annie,
Since ye wald neer take mine;
The woman shall never have the hand
That I'll touch after thine.
40 'An I will kiss your mouth, Annie,
Since ye will never kiss mine;
The woman shall never have the lips
That I'll kiss after thine.
* * * * *
41 . . . . .
. . . . .
'As much breid ye deal at Annie's dairgie
Tomorrow ye's deal at mine.'
-----------
Fair Annie an Sweet Willie- Version I; Child 73 Lord Thomas and Annet
1 Fair Annie an Sweet Willie
Sat a' day on yon hill;
Whan day was gane an night was comd,
They hadna said their fill.
2 Willie spak but ae wrang word,
An Annie took it ill:
'I'll never marry a fair woman
Against my friends's will.'
3 Annie spak but ae wrang word,
An Willy lookit down:
'If I binna gude eneugh for yer wife,
I'm our-gude for yer loun.'
4 Willie's turnd his horse's head about,
He's turnd it to the broom,
An he's away to his father's bower,
I the ae light o the moon.
5 Whan he cam to his father's bower,
[He tirlt at the pin;
Nane was sae ready as his father
To rise an let him in.]
6 'An askin, an askin, dear father,
An askin I'll ask thee;'
'Say on, say on, my son Willie,
Whatever your askin be.'
7 'O sall I marry the nit-brown bride,
Has corn, caitle an kye,
Or sall I marry Fair Annie,
Has nought but fair beauty?'
8 'Ye ma sit a gude sate, Willy,
Wi corn, caitle an kye;
But ye'll but sit a silly sate
Wi nought but fair beauty.'
9 Up than spak his sister's son,
Sat on the nurse's knee,
Sun-bruist in his mother's wame,
Sun-brunt on his nurse's knee:
10 'O yer hogs will die out i the field,
Yer kye ill die i the byre;
An than, whan a' yer gear is gane,
A fusom fag by yer fire!
But a' will thrive at is wi you
An ye get yer heart's desire.'
11 Willie's turnd his horse's head about,
He's away to his mother's bour, etc.
12 'O my hogs ill die out i the field,
My kye die i the byre,
An than, whan a' my gear is gane,
A fusom fag bi my fire!
But a' will thrive at is wi me
Gin I get my heart's desire.'
13 Willie's, etc.,
He's awae to his brother's bower, etc.
14 Willie's, etc.,
He's awae to his sister's bower, etc.
15 Than Willie has set his wadin-day
Within thirty days an three,
An he has sent to Fair Annie
His waddin to come an see.
16 The man that gade to Fair Annie
Sae weel his errant coud tell:
'The morn it's Willie's wadin-day,
Ye maun be there yer sell.'
17 'Twas up an spak her aged father,
He spak wi muckle care;
'An the morn be Willie's wadin-day,
I wate she maun be there.
18 'Gar take a steed to the smiddie,
Caw on o it four shoon;
Gar take her to a merchant's shop,
Cut off for her a gown.'
19 She wadna ha 't o the red sae red,
Nor yet o the grey sae grey,
But she wad ha 't o the sky couler
That she woor ilka day.
* * * * * * *
20 There war four-an-twontie gray goss-hawks
A flaffin their wings sae wide,
To flaff the stour thra off the road
That Fair Annie did ride.
21 The[re] war four-a-twontie milk-white dows
A fleein aboon her head,
An four-an-twontie milk-white swans
Her out the gate to lead.
22 Whan she cam to St Marie's kirk,
She lightit on a stane;
The beauty o that fair creature
Shone oer mony ane.
23 'Twas than out cam the nit-brown bride,
She spak wi muckle spite;
'O where gat ye the water, Annie,
That washes you sae white?'
24 'I gat my beauty
Where ye was no to see;
I gat it i my father's garden,
Aneath an apple tree.
25 'Ye ma wash i dubs,' she said,
'An ye ma wash i syke,
But an ye wad wash till doomsday
Ye neer will be as white.
26 'Ye ma wash i dubs,' she said,
'An ye ma wash i the sea,
But an ye soud wash till doomsday
Ye'll neer be as white as me.
27 'For I gat a' this fair beauty
Where ye gat never none,
For I gat a' this fair beauty
Or ever I was born.'
28 It was than out cam Willie,
Wi hats o silks and flowers;
He said, Keep ye thae, my Fair Annie,
An brook them weel for yours.'
29 'Na, keep ye thae, Willie,' she said,
'Gie them to yer nit-brown bride;
Bid her wear them wi mukle care,
For woman has na born a son
Sal mak my heart as sair.'
30 Annie's luppen on her steed
An she has ridden hame,
Than Annie's luppen of her steed
An her bed she has taen.
31 When mass was sung, an bells war rung,
An a' man bound to bed,
An Willie an his nit-brown bride
I their chamber war laid.
32 They war na weel laid in their bed,
Nor yet weel faen asleep,
Till up an startit Fair Annie,
Just up at Willie's feet.
33 'How like ye yer bed, Willie?
An how like ye yer sheets?
An how like ye yer nut-brown bride,
Lies in yer arms an sleeps?'
34 'Weel eneugh I like my bed, Annie,
Weel eneugh I like my sheets;
But wae be to the nit-brown bride
Lies in my arms an sleeps!'
35 Willie's ca'd on his merry men a'
To rise an pit on their shoon;
'An we'll awae to Annie's bower,
Wi the ae light o the moon.'
36 An whan he cam to Annie's bower,
He tirlt at the pin;
Nane was sae ready as her father
To rise an let him in.
37 There was her father a[n] her se'en brethren
A makin to her a bier,
Wi ae stamp o the melten goud,
Another o siller clear.
38 When he cam to the chamber-door
Where that the dead lay in,
There was her mother an six sisters
A makin to her a sheet,
Wi ae drap o . . . .
Another o silk sae white.
39 'Stand by, stand by now, ladies a',
Let me look on the dead;
The last time that I kiss[t] her lips
They war mair bonny red.'
40 'Stand by, stand by now, Willie,' they said,
'An let ye her alane;
Gin ye had done as ye soud done,
She wad na there ha lien.'
41 'Gar deal, gar deal at Annie's burrial
The wheat bread an the wine,
For or the morn at ten o clock
Ye's deal'd as fast at mine.'
-----------
End-Notes
A. "Some traditionary copies of the ballad have this stanza, which is the 19th in order:
And four and twenty milk-white swans,
Wi their wings stretchd out wide,
To blaw the stour aff the highway,
To let Fair Annie ride."
(Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. lxviii, 19.)
Compare 'Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet,' C 22.
C. 63, 103. silk.
131. The maidens.
D. a. A Tragical Story of Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor. Together with the downfall of the Brown Girl.
34. And bring.
91. many of your.
94, 121. Thomas his.
104. Thomas's his.
153. But betwixt.
b. A Tragical Ballad on the unfortunate Love of Lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, together with the Downfal of the Brown Girl.
13, a fine.
23. marry with.
31. land.
34. Bring me.
41. As it.
42. many more did.
64. for thee.
74. bridegroom.
91. many that are.
94, 104, 121. Thomas's.
102. And if.
113. through.
114. to be some.
131. Ellinor said.
132. wonderful.
133. mightst.
142. now wanting.
153. And.
163. Thou us'd to look.
184. he wanting.
193. There never were three lovers met.
194. That sooner did.
c. 13. a fine.
23. marry with.
32. And wanting.
33. thee on.
34. To bring.
54. For wanting.
64. for thee.
74. bridegroom.
91. many that are.
83, 94, 104, 121. Thomases.
103. or betide.
113. through.
133. You might.
142. now wanting.
153. And.
154. She prickd.
162. wain.
d. 32. she 's got land, she says.
42. many more do.
52. at the pin.
84. I shall let it alone.
92. foes.
102. If a thousand were our foes.
103. me life, me death.
104. To Lord Thomas's I'll go.
122. at the pin.
After 12:
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her through the hall;
He set her in the noblest chair,
Among the ladies all.
152. both keen.
161. now save me.
163. usest to look as good a colour.
After 17:
'O dig my grave,' Lord Thomas replied,
'Dig it both wide and deep,
And lay Fair Eleanor by my side
And the brown girl at my feet.'
184. And flung.
193,4. There never were three lovers sure
That sooner did depart.
e. Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 293, from the recitation of Widow McCormick, February 23, 1825; learned of an old woman in Dumbarton, thirty years before.
1 'Come riddle me, riddle me, mother,' he says,
'Come riddle me all in one,
Whether I'll goe to court Fair Helen
Or fetch you the brown girl home.'
2 'It 's many's the ones your friends,' she says,
'And many's the ones your fone;
My blessing be on you, dear son,' she says,
'Go fetch me the brown girl home.'
3 He dressed himself all in green,
Thorough the road he went,
And every village that he came to,
They took him to be a king.
4 Till that he came to Fair Helen's gate;
He tinkled low at the ring;
Who was so ready as Fair Helen herself
To let Lord Thomas in.
5 'You 're welcome, you 're welcome, Lord Thomas,' she says,
'What news have you brought to me?'
'I've come to bid you to my wedding,
And that is bad news to thee.'
6 'It's God forbid, Lord Thomas,' she said,
'That sic an a thing should be,
But I for to be the body of the bride,
And you to be the bridegroom.
7 'Come riddle me, riddle me, mother,' she says,
'Come riddle me all in one,
Whether I'll go to Lord Thomas' wedding,
Or mourn all day at home.'
8 'Many's the ones your friend,' she says,
'And many 's the ones your fone;
'My blessing be on you, dear daughter,' she says,
'And mourn all day at home.'
9 'Many's the ones my friends, mother,' she says,
'And many 's the ones my fae,
But I will go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Should I lose my life by the way.'
10 She dressed herself all in green,
Thorow the road she went,
And every village that she came to,
They took her for to be a queen.
11 Till that she came to Lord Thomas' gates;
She tinkled low at the ring;
Who was so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To let Fair Helen in.
12 'Where have you got this brown girl?' she says,
'I think she looks wonderful brown;
You might have had as pretty a bride
As ever the sun shined on.'
13 It 's up and starts the brown girl's mother,
And an angry woman was she:
'Where have you got the roseberry-water
That washes your face so clear?'
14 'It's I have gotten that roseberry-water
Where that she could get none;
For I have got it in my mother's womb,
Where in her mother's womb there was none.'
15 She took up a little pen-knife,
That was baith sharp and small,
She stuck Fair Helen fornents the heart,
And down the blood did fall.
16 'What ailes you, Fair Helen?' he says,
'I think you look wonderful pale:
. . .
. . .
17 'What ailes you, Lord Thomas?' she says,
'Or don't you very well see?
O don't you see my very heart's blood
Coming trinkling down by my knee?'
18 He took up a little small sword,
That hung low by his knee,
And he cut off the brown girl's head,
And dashed it against the wall.
19 He set the sword all in the ground,
And on it he did fall;
So there was an end of these three lovers,
Thro spite and malice all.
82. foe in the margin.
194. All thro spite and malice is noted as if it were what was recited.
f. From Miss Clara Mackay, Woodstock, New Brunswick, 1881, derived from her great grandmother. The title is 'Lord Thomas.'
12. The keeper of our king's gear.
4, 7 are wanting.
112. Her merry maids all in green.
After 12:
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her through the hall,
And sat her in a chair of gold,
Amidst her merry maids all.
152. both clean and sharp.
After 17: 'No, I am not blind,' Lord Thomas he said,
'But I can plainly see,
And I can see your dear heart's blood
Runs trickling down your knee.'
182. It was both keen and small.
184. And flung.
After 19, as in d:
'Oh dig me a grave,' Lord Thomas he said,
'And dig it both wide and deep,
And lay Fair Ellinor at my side,
The brown girl at my feet.'
g. Recited to me by Ellen Healy, 1881, as learned by her of a young girl living near Killarney, Ireland, about 1867.
22. come riddle me oer and oer: so 82.
24, 34. the pretty brown girl bring home.
After 3:
He dressed himself up in a suit of green,
And his merrymen all in white;
There was not a town that he rode through
But they took him to be a knight.
9 'Lord Thomas has got company enough,
Fair Ellinor, you have none;
Therefore I charge you with my blessing,
Fair Ellinor, stay at home.'
11 She dressed herself up in a suit of white,
And her merrymen all in green;
There was not a town that she rode through
But they took her to be a queen.
After 12:
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And by the waist so small,
And set her at the head of the table,
...
After 13:
Up spoke the pretty brown girl,
She said ...
'Where did you get the water
That washed your skin so white?'
'There is a well in my father's land,
A place you'll never see,
...
...
14 wanting.
19. Imperfectly remembered.
Lord Thomas he stabbed the pretty brown girl, and then he stabbed himself; and he said,
Bury the pretty brown girl at my feet, and Fair Ellinor in my arms.
A red rose grew out of Fair Ellinor, and a sweet briar out of Lord Thomas's grave, and they grew until they met.
h. An Irish version, recited by Ellen Daily, Taunton, Massachusetts.
22. Come riddle me all at once.
24. Or the bonny brown girl.
4. He dressed himself up in a suit of fine clothes,
With merry men all in white;
And there was not a town that he rode through
But they took him to be a knight.
52. very low at her ring.
103,4. 'Let the wind blow high or low,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go.'
11. She dressed herself up in a suit of fine clothes,
With merry maids all in green;
And there was not a town that she rode through
But they took her to be a queen.
122. very low at his ring.
After 12:
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her along the hall;
He handed her to the head of the table,
Among the ladies all.
After 13:
Then out spoke the bonny brown girl some words with spirit, saying:
'Where did you get the water so clear,
That washed your face so white?'
'There is a well in my father's yard
That is both clear and spring,
And if you were to live till the day you die
That doon you never shall see.'
14 is wanting.
After 19:
'Bury my mother at my head,
Fair Ellenor by my side,
And bury the bonny brown girl at the end of the church,
Where she will be far from me.'
...
...
Out of Fair Ellen there grew a red rose,
And out of Lord Thomas there grew a sweet-briar.
They grew so tall, they sprung so broad,
They grew to a steeple top;
Twelve o'clock every night
They grew to a true lover's knot.
i. Communicated by Mr. W.W. Newell, as recited by an Irish maid-servant in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
1, 4-7, 10 are wanting.
After 12:
He took her by the lily-white hand,
And led her through the hall,
Until he put her sitting at the head of the table,
Amongst the gentleman all.
13, 14. 'Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?' they said,
Or is this your bride?' said they
'O 't is better I love her little finger
Than all her whole boday.'
The stanza which describes Lord Thomas's dress and the effect he produced occurs in e, g, h; that in which Lord Thomas leads Ellinor through the hall and conducts her to her place is found in d, f, g, h, i; the colloquy about the water which washes Ellinor so white in e, g, h; Lord Thomas's directions about the burial in d, f, h; the plants growing from the grave in g, h. None of these are in the English broadside.
A fragment in Pitcairn's Manuscripts, III, 35, is derived from the English broadside.
F. The copy in Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 339, b, seems to be a revision of the other. The two portions of that which is apparently the earlier, a, became separated by some accident or oversight. For stanzas 18-37 I have not the original, but a transcript. After 1, b inserts Jamieson's second stanza, E 2.
4. ye merry twice.
53. altered to What 's metter, son Willie, to conform to 63: b, And what 's the matter.
121. Ye'll tell her to come.
123. Yer bidden come.
131. Yer forbidden. Anticipating 14, 15. Corrected in b as here, and partly in a.
182. a, gold engraved, b, golden graved: cf. H, 16, 20.
223. Oh is it: corrected in b.
253. She has by far struck out and Fair Annie written above: b, Fair Annie hes oer.
G. The division of stanzas and of verses has in some cases required regulation. The handwriting is in places difficult, and I cannot be sure that the spelling in every case is what the writer intended.
74. mann?
163. Willie.
202. fett?
213. ser brunt (?)
214. faett?
231. Whan.
253. perhaps dreams.
281. deal illegible, a conjecture.
293. grave?
Additions and Corrections
P. 179 b. F. After Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 127, insert: and Dr. John Hill Burton's papers.
182. Green and blue.
"Oh green's forsaken,
And yellow's forsworn,
And blue's the sweetest
Color that's worn."
This is given (apropos of an emerald engagement-ring) as a popular rhyme in William Black's Three Feathers, chap. ix. The scene is in Cornwall.
"Then shall ye were a shelde of blewe,
In token ye shall be trewe,"
says the king's daughter of Hungary in the Squyr of Lowe Degre, vv. 205, 206, Ritson, III, 158. See Rochholz, Altdeutsches Bürgerleben, pp. 277, 278. G. L. K.
P. 1 79 f. D. The Roxburghe copy of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor,' III, 554, is printed by Mr. J.W. Ebsworth in the Ballad Society's edition of the Roxburghe Ballads, VI, 647. (Mr. Ebsworth notes that the broadside occurs in the Bagford Ballads, II, 127; Douce, I, 120 v., Ill, 58 v., IV, 36; Ouvry, II, 38; Jersey, III, 88.) 'The Unfortunate Forrester,' Roxburghe, II, 553, is printed at p. 645 of the same volume. A copy from singing is given (with omissions) in Miss Burne's Shropshire Folk-Lore, 1883-86, p. 545; another, originally from recitation, in Mr. G. R. Tomson's Ballads of the North Countrie, 1888, p. 82. Both came, traditionally, from print. Still another, from the singing of a Virginian nurse-maid (helped out by her mother), was communicated by Mr. W.H. Babcock to the Folk-Lore Journal, VII, 33, 1889, and may be repeated here, both because it is American and also because of its amusing perversions.
The Brown Girl
1 'O mother, O mother, come read this to me,
And regulate all as one,
Whether I shall wed fair Ellinter or no,
Or fetch you the brown girl home.'
2 'Fair Ellinter she has houses and wealth,
The brown girl she has none;
But before I am charged with that blessing,
Go fetch me the brown girl home.'
3 He dressed himself in skylight green,
His groomsmen all in red;
And every town as he rode through
They took him to be some king.
4 He rode and he rode until he came to fair Ellinter's door;
He knocked so loud at the ring;
There was none so ready as fair Ellinter herself
To rise and let him in.
5 'O what is the news, Lord Thomas?' she said,
'O what is the news to thee?'
'I 've come to invite you to my wedding,
And that is bad news to thee.'
6 'God forbid, Lord Thomas,' she said,
'That any such thing should be!
For I should have been the bride myself,
And you should the bridegroom be.
7 'O mother, O mother, come read this to me,
And regulate all as one,
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas' wed,
Or stay with you at home.'
8 'Here you have one thousand friends,
Where there you would but one;
So I will invite you, with my blessing,
To stay with me at home.'
9 But she dressed herself in skylight red,
Her waiting-maids all in green,
And every town as she rode through
They took her to be some queen.
10 She rode and she rode till she came to Lord Thomas's door;
She knocked so loud at the ring;
There was none so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To rise and let her in.
11 He took her by her lily-white hand,
He led her across the hall;
Sing, 'Here are five and twenty gay maids,
She is the flower of you all.'
12 He took her by her lily-white hand,
He led her across the hall,
He sat her down in a big arm-chair,
And kissed her before them all.
13 The wedding was gotten, the table was set,
. . .
The first to sit down was Lord Thomas himself,
His bride, fair Ellinter, by his side.
14 'Is this your bride, Lord Thomas?' she said;
'If this is your bride, Lord Thomas, she looks most wonderfully dark,
When you could have gotten a fairer
As ever the sun shone on.'
15 'O don't you despise her,' Lord Thomas said he,
'O don't you despise her to me;
Yes, I like the end of your little finger
Better than her whole body.'
16 The brown girl, having a little penknife,
And being both keen and sharp,
Right between the long and short ribs,
She pierced poor Ellinter's heart.
17 'O what is the matter, fair Ellinter,' said he,
'That you look so very dark,
When your cheeks used to have been so red and rosy
As ever the sun shined on?'
18 'Are you blind, or don't you see,
My heart-blood come trickling down to my knee?'
31,2. green and red should be interchanged: cf. 9.
13, 14. Rearranged.
151. said she.
181. Add to the French ballads, 'La Délaissée,' V. Smith, Romania, VII, 82; Legrand, Romania, X, 386, No 32; 'La triste Noce,' Thiriat, Mélusine, I, 189; and to the Italian ballad, Nigra, No 20, p. 139, 'Danze e Funerali.'
To be Corrected in the Print.
179 b, note to B 72. Drop.
192 a, 74. Read maun. 82. Read Ye'r seer. 92. Drop the brackets.
193 a, 204. Read ye never gat.
222. Drop the brackets.
252. Read dreams.
193 b, 281. Read Ge (= Gae) for Ye.
The following are mostly trivial variations from the spelling of the text.
192 a, 54. Read An. 73. Read askin.
193b, 261. Read hour.
P. 180. Norse (1). 'Peder och liten Stina,' Lagus, Nyländska Folkvisor, I, 18, No 5. Stina hangs herself in the orchard. Peder runs on his spear.
181, III, 510 b. French ballads. 'La Délaissée,' Daymard, Vieux Chants p. rec. en Quercy, p. 50. 'Le Rossignolet,' Revue des Traditions pop., V, 144, 205.
[Version] I
P. 182 f. "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 22 h; in the handwriting of William Laidlaw. From Jean Scott.
1 Fair Annie an Sweet Willie
Sat a' day on yon hill;
Whan day was gane an night was comd,
They hadna said their fill.
2 Willie spak but ae wrang word,
An Annie took it ill:
' I'll never marry a fair woman
Against my friends's will.'
3 Annie spak but ae wrang word,
An Willy lookit down:
'If I binna gude eneugh for yer wife,
I'm our-gude for yer loun.'
4 Willie's turnd his horse's head about,
He's turnd it to the broom,
An he's away to his father's bower,
I the ae light o the moon.
5 Whan he cam to his father's bower,
[He tirlt at the pin;
Nane was sae ready as his father
To rise an let him in.]
6 'An askin, an askin, dear father,
An askin I'll ask thee;'
'Say on, say on, my son Willie,
Whatever your askin be.'
7 'O sail I marry the nit-brown bride,
Has corn, caitle an kye,
Or sail I marry Fair Annie,
Has nought but fair beauty?'
8 'Ye ma sit a gude sate, Willy,
Wi corn, caitle an kye;
But ye'll but sit a silly sate
Wi nought but fair beauty.'
9 Up than spak his sister's son,
Sat on the nurse's knee,
Sun-bruist in his mother's wame,
Sun-brunt on his nurse's knee:
10 'O yer hogs will die out i the field,
Yer kye ill die i the byre;
An than, whan a' yer gear is gane,
A fusom fag by yer fire!
But a' will thrive at is wi you
An ye get yer heart's desire.'
11 Willie's turnd his horse's head about,
He's away to his mother's hour, etc.
12 'O my hogs ill die out i the field,
My kye die i the byre,
An than, whan a' my gear is gane,
A fusom fag bi my fire!
But a' will thrive at is wi me
Gin I get my heart's desire.'
13 Willie's, etc.,
He's awae to his brother's bower, etc.
14 Willie's, etc.,
He's awae to his sister's bower, etc.
15 Than Willie has set his wadin-day
Within thirty days an three,
An he has sent to Fair Annie
His waddin to come an see.
16 The man that gade to Fair Annie
Sae weel his errant coud tell:
'The morn it's Willie's wadin-day,
Ye maun be there yer sell.'
17 'T was up an spak her aged father,
He spak wi muckle care;
An the morn be Willie's wadin-day,
I wate she maun be there.
18 'Gar take a steed to the smiddie,
Caw on o it four shoon;
Gar take her to a merchant's shop,
Cut off for her a gown.'
19 She wadna ha 't o the red sae red
Nor yet o the grey sae grey,
But she wad ha 't o the sky couler
That she woor ilka day.
* * *
20 There war four-an-twontie gray goss-hawks
A flaffin their wings sae wide,
To naff the stour thra off the road
That Fair Annie did ride.
21 The [re] war four-a-twontie milk-white dows
A fleein aboon her head,
An four-an-twontie milk-white swans
Her out the gate to lead.
22 Whan she cam to St. Marie's kirk,
She lightit on a stane;
The beauty o that fair creature
Shone oer mony ane.
23 'T was than out cam the nit-brown bride,
She spak wi muckle spite;
' O where gat ye the water, Annie,
That washes you sae white?'
24 'I gat my beauty
Where ye was no to see;
I gat it i my father's garden,
Aneath an apple tree.
25 'Ye ma wash i dubs,' she said,
'An ye ma wash i syke,
But an ye wad wash till doomsday
Ye neer will be as white.
26 'Ye ma wash i dubs,' she said,
'An ye ma wash i the sea,
But an ye soud wash till doomsday
Ye'll neer be as white as me.
27 'For I gat a' this fair beauty
Where ye gat never none,
For I gat a' this fair beauty
Or ever I was born.'
28 It was than out cam Willie,
Wi hats o silks and flowers;
He said, Keep ye thae, my Fair Annie,
An brook them weel for yours.'
29 'Na, keep ye thae, Willie,' she said,
'Gie them to yer nit-brown bride;
Bid her wear them wi mukle care,
For woman has na born a son
Sal mak my heart as sair.'
30 Annie's luppen on her steed
An she has ridden hame,
Than Annie's luppen of her steed
An her bed she has taen.
31 When mass was sung, an bells war rung,
An a' man bound to bed,
An Willie an his nit-brown bride
I their chamber war laid.
32 They war na weel laid in their bed,
Nor yet weel faen asleep,
Till up an startit Fair Annie,
Just up at Willie's feet.
33 'How like ye yer bed, Willie?
An how like ye yer sheets?
An how like ye yer nut-brown bride,
Lies in yer arms an sleeps?'
34 'Weel eneugh I like my bed, Annie,
Weel eneugh I like my sheets;
But wae be to the nit-brown bride
Lies in my arms an sleeps!'
35 Willie's ca'd on his merry men a'
To rise an pit on their shoon;
'An we'll awae to Annie's bower,
Wi the ae light o the moon.'
36 An whan he cam to Annie's bower,
He tirlt at the pin;
Nane was sae ready as her father
To rise an let him in.
37 There was her father a[n] her se'en brethren
A makin to her a bier,
Wi ae stamp o the melten goud,
Another o siller clear.
38 When he cam to the chamber-door
Where that the dead lay in,
There was her mother an six sisters
A makin to her a sheet,
Wi ae drap o ...
Another o silk sae white.
39 'Stand by, stand by now, ladies a',
Let me look on the dead;
The last time that I kiss[t] her lips
They war mair bonny red.'
40 'Stand by, stand by now, Willie,' they said,
'An let ye her alane;
Gin ye had done as ye soud done,
She wad na there ha lien.'
41 'Gar deal, gar deal at Annie's burrial
The wheat bread an the wine,
For or the morn at ten o clock
Ye's deal'd as fast at mine.'
5. Whan he cam to his father's bower, etc. Completed from 36.
72. caitle written under cattle.
84. Annie written over nought.
11. 4-8 are intended to be repeated, with mother substituted for father.
13, 14. 4-8, 12, are intended to be repeated, with the proper substitutions for brother, sister.
After 19: Something about her sadle and steed.
202, 372, 384. A'; which may be intended.
29. Compare E 30: but I am unable to suggest a satisfactory restoration of the stanza.
After 41: etc. See Sweet Willie an Janet. What should follow is probably, Sweet Willie was buried, etc.
There are six stanzas of 'Lord Thomas and Fair Elenor,' from Mrs. Gammell's recitation, in Pitcairn's Manuscripts, III, 35. They are of no value.
P. 181, III, 510 b, IV, 469 a. Add another version of 'Le Rossignolet,' Rev. des Trad, pop., VIII, 418.
192. G as it stands in "The Old Lady's Collection," No 24.
1 Suit Willie an Fair Anne,
They satt on yon hill,
An fra the morning till night this tua
Never ta'ked ther fill.
2 Willie spak a word in jeast,
An Anny toke it ill:
'We's court ne mare mean madens,
Agenst our parents' will.'
3 'It's na agenst our parents' will,'
Fair Annie she did say;
. . .
. . .
4 Willie is hame to his hour,
To his book alean,
An Fair Anni is to her hour,
To her book an her seam.
5 Suit Willie is to his mider dear,
Fell lou doun on his knee:
'A asking, my mider dear,
An ye grant it me;
O will I marry the nut-broun may,
An latt Faire Anny be?'
6 'The nut-broun may has ousen, Willie,
The nut-broun may has kay;
An ye will wine my blissing, Willie,
An latt Fair Anny be.'
7 He did him to his father dear,
Fell lou doun on his knee:
'A asken, my father,
An ye man grant it me.'
8 'Ask on, my ae sin Willie,
Ye 'r sear yer asking is frea;
Except it be to marry her Fair Anny,
An that ye manna deei.'
9 Out spak his littel sister,
As she sat by the fire;
The oxe-lig will brak in the plough,
An the cou will droun in the mire.
10 'An Willie will hae nathing
Bat the dam to sitt by the fire,
An Faire Annie will sit in her beagly hour,
An wine a eearl's hire.'
11 'Fair faa ye, my littel sister,
A gued dead matt ye dee!
An ever I hae goud,
Well touchered sail ye be.'
12 Hi'se away to Fair Annie,
As fast as gang coud he:
' O will ye come to my marrag?
The morn it's to be.'
' O I will come to yer marrag the morn,
Gin I can wine,' said she.
13 Annie did her to her father d[ea]r,
Fell lou doun on her knee:
'An askin, my father,
An ye mane grant it me;
Latt me to Suit Willie's marrage,
The morn it is to be.'
14 'Your hors sail be siler-shod afor,
An guid read goud ahind,
An bells in his main,
To ring agenst the wind.'
15 She did her to her mother dear,
Fell lou on her knee:
'Will ye latt me to Willie's marrage?
To-morraa it is to be.'
'I ill latt ye to Willie's marrage,
To-morray it is to be.'
16 Fan Anne was in her sadel sett,
She flamd agenst the fire;
The girdell about her sma middell
Wad a wone a eearl's hire.
17 Fan they came to Mary kirk,
An on to Mary quir,
'O far gat ye that water, Anne,
That washes ye sae clean?'
'I gat it in my fa(t)hers garden,
Aneth a marbell stane.'
18 'O fare gatt ye that water, Anne,
That washes ye sae fett?'
'I gat it in my mider's womb,
Far ye never gat the leak.
19 'For ye ha ben cirsned we mose- water,
An roked in the reak,
An sin-brunt in yer midder's womb,
For I think ye'll never be faitt.'
20 The broun bride pat her hand in
Att Anne's left gare,
An gen her
A deap wound an a sare.
21 O Anne gid on her hors back,
An fast away did ride,
Batt lang or kok's crawang
Fair Anne was dead.
22 Fan bells was rung, an messe was sung,
An a' man boun to bed,
Suit Willie an the nut-broun bride
In a chamber was lead.
23 But up an wakned him Suit Willie,
Out of his dreary dream:
'I dreamed a dream this night,
God read a' dreams to gued!
24 'That Fair Anne's bour was full of gentelmen,
An her nen sellf was dead;
Bat I will on to Fair Annie,
An see if it be gued.'
25 Seven lang mille or he came near,
He hard a dulfull chear,
Her father an her seven bretheren
Making to her a bear,
The half of it guid read goud,
The eather silver clear.
26 'Ye berl att my love's leak
The whit bread an the wine,
Bat or the morn att this time
Ye's de the leak att mine.'
27 The tean was beared att Mary kirk,
The eather att Mary quir;
Out of the an grue a birk,
Out of the eather a brear.
28 An ay the langer att they grue
They came the eather near,
An by that ye might a well kent
They war tua lovers dear.
43. There may have been a word between book and alean.
56. bay: cf. 64.
162. flamd is doubtful.
214. farie.
233. might.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. 181, III, 510 b, IV, 469 a, V, 223 b. Add to the Southern ballads 'Le mariage tragique,' Beauquier, Chansons p. recueillies en Franche-comté, p. 81; 'Las bodas,' Milá, Romancerillo Catalan, p. 257, No 262. (In this last, 'vert marca esperansa.')
To be Corrected in the Print.
470 a, 202, 212. Read A'.
Trivial Corrections of Spelling.
191 a, 183. Read of.
191 a, 191. Read on.
191 a, 253. Read our.
Trivial Corrections of Spelling.
470 a, 201. Read four-a-twontie.