Ballads, English -- England -- Texts; Ballads, Scots -- Scotland -- Texts
"And he has broken my bonny coffers, 25
That was weel bandit wi' aiken ban;
And he has stown my rich jewels;
I wot he has stown them every ane."
Then out it spak her Lady Elspat,
As she sat by Lord-justice' knee; 30
"Now ye hae told your tale, mither,
I pray, Lord-justice, ye'll now hear me.
"He hasna broken her bonny castell,
That was weel biggit wi' lime and stane;
Nor has he stown her rich jewels, 35
For I wat she has them every ane.
"But though he was my first true love,
And though I had sworn to be his bride,
'Cause he hadna a great estate,
She would this way our loves divide." 40
Syne out and spak the Lord-justice,
I wat the tear was in his e'e;
"I see nae faut in this young man;
Sae loose his bands, and set him free.
"And tak your love, now, Lady Elspat, 45
And my best blessin' you baith upon;
For gin he be your first true love,
He is my eldest sister's son.
"There stands a steed in my stable,
Cost me baith gold and white mony; 50
Ye's get as mickle o' my free land
As he'll ride about in a summer's day."
THE LOVERS QUARREL; OR, CUPIDS TRIUMPH.
"This 'pleasant History,' which 'may be sung to the tune of Floras
Farewell,' is here republished from a copy printed at London for F.
Cotes and others, 1677, 12mo. bl. 1., preserved in the curious and
valuable collection of that excellent and most respected antiquary
Antony [a'] Wood, in the Ashmolean Museum; compared with another
impression, for the same partners, without date, in the editor's
possession. A different copy of the poem, more in the ballad form, was
published, and may be found among the king's pamphlets in the British
Museum. Both copies are conjectured to have been modernized, by
different persons, from some common original, which has hitherto
eluded the vigilance of collectors, but is strongly suspected to have
been the composition of an old North country minstrel.
"The full title is, _The Lovers Quarrel: or Cupids Triumph: being the
pleasant history of Fair Rosamond of Scotland. Being daughter to the
Lord Arundel, whose love was obtained by the valour of Tommy Pots: who
conquered the Lord Phenix, and wounded him, and after obtained her to
be his wife. Being very delightful to read_." RITSON, _Pieces of
Ancient Popular Poetry_, p. 135.
Of all the lords in Scotland fair,
And ladies that been so bright of blee,
There is a noble lady among them all,
And report of her you shall hear by me.
For of her beauty she is bright, 5
And of her colour very fair,
She's daughter to Lord Arundel,
Approv'd his parand and his heir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account