Lord Thomas- Grimm (Nebraska) 1913 Pound
[From: American Ballads and Songs- Louise Pound; 1922. Her notes follow.
R. Matteson 2012]
Notes: 12. Lord Thomas. Compare Lord Thomas and Fair Annet. Child, No. 73. Secured by Miss Florence Grimm of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1913, from her grandfather, who brought it from Maryland.
12. LORD THOMAS
Lord Thomas he was a bold forester,
The chaser of the king's deer;
Fair Ellen she was a sweet young lady,
Lord Thomas he loved her dear.
"Come riddle my riddle, dear mother," he said,
"Come riddle it all in one,
Whether I shall marry fair Ellen or no
Or bring the brown girl home."
"The brown girl she has houses and land,
Fair Ellen she has none,
So I advise you with my blessing
To bring the brown girl home."
Lord Thomas he dressed in scarlet red,
His merry men all were seen,
And as he rode along the street,
They took him to be a king.
He rode till he came to fair Ellen's gate,
He knocked loud at the ring,
And who was there but fair Ellen herself
To let Lord Thomas in?
"What news, what news?" fair Ellen said,
"What news have you brought me?"
"I've come to invite you to my wedding,
Most miserable news for thee."
"O God forbid," fair Ellen she said,
"That such a thing should be done,
I thought to be the bride myself
And thou shouldst be the groom."
"Come riddle my riddle, dear mother," she said,
"Come riddle it all in one,
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas' wedding,
Or shall I stay at home?"
"O to Lord Thomas' wedding don't go,
To Lord Thomas' wedding don't go;
As many as are your friends, dear daughter,
There's more will be your foes."
"To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go," she said,
"To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go,
If it costs my heart's blood, body and all,
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
Fair Ellen she dressed in scarlet red,
Her merry maids all were seen,
And as she rode along the street
They took her to be a queen.
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas' gate,
She knocked loud at the ring.
And who was there but Lord Thomas himself
To let fair Ellen in.
He took her by her lily-white hand,
He led her through the hall;
He placed her on the noblest chair
Among the ladies all.
"Is this your bride?" fair Ellen said,
"I think she is wonderful brown,
You might have had as fair a young lady
As ever put foot on ground."
"Despise her not," Lord Thomas he said,
"Despise her not unto me; "
Better I love your little finger
Than the brown girl's whole body."
The brown girl she had a little pen-knife,
It was both keen and sharp;
Betwixt the long ribs and the short
She pierced fair Ellen's heart.
"What ails, what ails?" Lord Thomas he said.
"I think you are wonderful pale;
You used to have so fair a color,
As ever a rose could bloom."
"O are you blind," fair Ellen said,
"Or can you not very well see?
O don't you see my own heart's blood
Go trickling down my knee?"
Lord Thomas he had a two-edged sword,
He flourished it all around;
He took the brown girl's head from the shoulders
And threw, it to the ground.
He put the handle on the ground,
The point was towards his heart.
Those three true lovers they very well met,
But sadly they did depart.
"O dig my grave," Lord Thomas he said,
"Dig it both wide and deep,
And lay fair Ellen in my arms,
And the brown girl at my feet."
Out of Lord Thomas there grew a golden briar,
And out of fair Ellen a thorn;
Those three true lovers they very well met,
But better they'd never been born.