Lord Thomas- (MA-IR) pre1884 Child Di Newell
[From English and Scottish Popular Ballads; Volume 3: Ballads 54-82; Published June 1885.
Child says this was: "Communicated by Mr. W.W. Newell, as recited by an Irish maid-servant in Cambridge, Massachusetts."
The changes taken from Da follow. It should be remembered that this is an approximation and that the original MS would be needed to make an authentic version.
R. Matteson 2014]
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.'
Lord Thomas- from Newell pre1884
1 '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.'
2 '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.'
3 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' she said,
'And riddle it all in one;
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or whether I shall tarry at home.'
4 'There's many that are your friends, daughter,
And many that are your foe;
Therefore I charge you on my blessing,
To Lord Thomas's wedding don't go.'
5 She cloathed herself in gallant attire,
And her merry men all in green,
And as they rode thorough every town,
They took her to have been a queen.
6 But when she came to Lord Thomas's gate,
She knocked there at the ring;
But who was so ready as Lord Thomas
To let Fair Ellinor in.
7 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.
8 '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 body.'
9 This brown bride had a little penknife,
That was both long and sharp,
And betwixt the short ribs and the long
Pricked Fair Ellinor to the heart.
10 'Oh Christ now save thee,' Lord Thomas he said,
'Methinks thou looks wondrous wan;
Thou used to look as fresh a color
As ever the sun shined on.'
11 'Oh art thou blind, Lord Thomas?' she said,
'Or canst thou not very well see?
Oh dost thou not see my own heart's blood
Comes trickling down my knee?'
12 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.
13 He set the hilt against the ground,
And the point against his heart;
There was never three lovers that ever met
Than sooner they did part.