English and Scottish Ballads, Volume IV

Ballads, English -- England -- Texts; Ballads, Scots -- Scotland -- Texts

He turn'd about wi' surly look,
      And said, "What's that to thee?                               10
    I'm gaen to see a lovely maid,
      Mair fairer far than ye."

    "Now hae ye play'd me this, fause love,
      In simmer, 'mid the flowers?
    I sall repay ye back again,                                     15
      In winter, 'mid the showers.

    "But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
      Will ye not turn again?
    For as ye look to ither women,
      Shall I to ither men."                                        20

    "Make your choose o' whom you please,
      For I my choice will have;
    I've chosen a maid mair fair than thee,
      I never will deceive."

    But she's kilt up her claithing fine,                           25
      And after him gaed she;
    But aye he said, "ye'll turn back,
      Nae farder gang wi' me."

    "But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
      Will ye never love me again?                                  30
    Alas! for loving you sae well,
      And you nae me again."

    The first an' town that they came till,
      He bought her brooch and ring;
    But aye he bade her turn again,                                 35
      And gang nae farder wi' him.

    "But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
      Will ye never love me again?
    Alas! for loving you sae well,
      And you nae me again."                                        40

    The niest an' town that they came till,
      His heart it grew mair fain;
    And he was deep in love wi' her,
      As she was ower again.

    The niest an' town that they came till,                         45
      He bought her wedding gown;
    And made her lady o' ha's and bowers,
      In bonny Berwick town.




THE GARDENER.


From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 74. The last stanza but
one is found in the preceding ballad. Another copy is given by Buchan,
_Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 187.

    The gard'ner stands in his bouer door,
      Wi' a primrose in his hand,
    And bye there cam a leal maiden,
      As jimp as a willow wand;
    And bye there cam a leal maiden,
      As jimp as a willow wand.

    "O ladie can ye fancy me,                                        5
      For to be my bride;
    Ye'se get a' the flowers in my garden,
      To be to you a weed.

    "The lily white sall be your smock;
      It becomes your body best;                                    10
    Your head sall be buskt wi' gelly-flower,
      Wi' the primrose in your breist.

    "Your goun sall be the Sweet William;
      Your coat the camovine;
    Your apron o' the sallads neat,                                 15
      That taste baith sweet and fine.

    "Your hose sall be the brade kail-blade,
      That is baith brade and lang;
    Narrow, narrow, at the cute,
      And brade, brade at the brawn.                                20

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English and Scottish Ballads, Volume IV

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