A BOOK OF OLD BALLADS
Selected and with an Introduction
by
BEVERLEY NICHOLS
CONTENTS
EDWARD, EDWARD
KING LEIR AND HIS THREE DAUGHTERS
HYND HORN
JOHN BROWN'S BODY
TIPPERARY
THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON
THE THREE RAVENS
THE GABERLUNZIE MAN
THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL
THE LYE
THE BALLAD OF READING GAOL
The source of these ballads will be found in the Appendixat the end
of this book.
LIST OF COLOUR PLATES
HYND HORN
THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON
THE THREE RAVENS
THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL
EDWARD, EDWARD
Quhy dois zour brand sae drop wi' bluid,
Edward, Edward?
Quhy dois zour brand sae drop wi' bluid?
And quhy sae sad gang zee, O?
O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid:
And I had nae mair bot hee, O.
Zour haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward.
Zour haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee, O.
O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and free, O.
Zour steid was auld, and ze hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward;
Zour steid was auld, and ze hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ze drie, O.
O, I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas! and wae is mee, O!
And quhatten penance wul ze drie for that,
Edward, Edward?
And quhatten penance will ze drie for that?
My deir son, now tell mee, O.
He set my feit in zonder boat,
Mither, mither:
He set my feit in zonder boat,
And He fare ovir the sea, O.
And quhat wul ze doe wi' zour towirs and zour ha',
Edward, Edward?
And quhat wul ze doe wi' zour towirs and zour ha',
That were sae fair to see, O?
He let thame stand til they doun fa',
Mither, mither:
He let thame stand til they doun fa',
For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.
And quhat wul ze leive to zour bairns and zour wife,