Barbara Allen's Cruelty- (NY) 1888 Harper's
[From: Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1888. These excellent illustrations from 1887 are set to an adaptation of Barbara Allen's Cruelty, an English broadside date back at least to the late 1600s, which is Child's B version.
R. Matteson 2012]
Barbara Allen's Cruelty- (NY) 1888 Harper's New Monthly Magazine
BARBARA ALLENS CRUELTY; OR THE YOUNG MANS TRAGEDY
With Barbara Allens Lamentation for her Unkindness to her Lover and herself.
To the tune of Barbara Allen.
IN Scarlet Town, where I was bound,
there was a fair Maid dwelling,
Whom I had chosen to be my own,
and her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merry Month of May,
when green leaves they was springing,
This young man on his Death-bed lay,
for the love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his man unto her then,
in the Town where she was dwelling:
You must come to my Master dear,
if your name be Barbara Allen.
For Death is printed in his face,
and Sorrows in him dwelling,
And you must come to my Master dear,
if your name is Barbara Allen.
If Death be printed on his face,
and Sorrows in him dwelling,
Then little better shall he be
for Bonny Barbara Allen.
So slowly, slowly she got up,
and so slowly she came to him,
And all she said when she came there,
young Man, I think you are a dying.
He turned his face unto her then,
if you be Barbara Allen,
My dear, said he, come pitty me,
as on my Death-Bed I am lying.
If on your Death-Bed you be lying,
what is that to Barbara Allen?
I cannot keep you from Death,
so farewell, said Barbara Allen.
He turnd his face unto the Wall
and Death came creeping to him:
Then adieu, adieu, and adieu to all,
and adieu to Barbara Allen.
And as she was walking on a day,
she heard the Bell a Ringing,
And it did seem to ring to her,
unworthy Barbara Allen.
She turnd herself round about,
and she spyd the Corps a coming:
Lay down, Lay down the Corps of Clay,
that I may look upon him.
And all the while she looked on,
so loudly she was laughing;
While all her Friends cryd amain,
unworthy Barbara Allen.
When he was dead & laid in Grave,
then Death came creeping to she.
0 Mother! Mother! make my Bed,
for his Death hath quite undone me.
A hard hearted Creature that I was,
to slight one that loved me so dearly,
I wish I had been more kinder to him,
the time of his Life, when he was near me.
So this Maid she then did dye,
and desired to he buried by him,
And repented herself before she dyd
that ever she did deny him.