And thou shalt have the best of them, And I will have the worse." The first stroke that little Musgrave stroke, He hurt Lord Barnard sore; The next stroke that Lord Barnard stroke, Little Musgrave ne'er struck more. With that bespake this fair lady, In bed whereas she lay; "Although thou'rt dead, thou little Musgrave, Yet I for thee will pray; "And wish well to thy soul will I, So long as I have life; So will I not for thee, Barnard, Although I am thy wedded wife." He cut her paps from off her breast, Great pity it was to see, That some drops of this lady's heart's blood Ran trickling down her knee. "Woe worth you, woe worth, my merry men all, You were ne er born for my good; Why did you not offer to stay my hand, When ye saw me wax so wood! "For I have slain the bravest sir knight That ever rode on steed; So have I done the fairest lady That ever did woman's deed. "A grave, a grave," Lord Barnard cried, To put these lovers in; But lay my lady on the upper hand, For she came of the better kin," [Illustration: 0054] THE TWA SISTERS |There was twa sisters in a bowr, _Edinburgh, Edinburgh_, There was twa sisters in a bow'r, _Stirling for aye_, There was twa sisters in a bowr, There came a knight to be their wooer, _Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay_. He courted the eldest wi' glove an' ring, But he loved the youngest above a' thing. He courted the eldest wi' brooch an' knife, But loved the youngest as his life; The eldest she was vexed sair, An' much envied her sister fair; Into her bower she could not rest, Wi' grief an' spite she almost brast. Upon a morning fair an' clear She cried upon her sister dear: O sister come to yon sea-stran', And see our father's ships come to lan'. She's ta'en her by the milk-white han', And led her down to yon sea-stran'. The youngest stood upon a stane, The eldest came an' threw her in; She took her by the middle sma', An' dash'd her bonny back to the jaw; O sister, sister, take my han', An I'se make you heir to a' my lan'. O sister, sister, take my middle, And ye's get my gold and my golden girdle. (_jaw,_ wave.) O sister, sister, save my life, And I swear I'se never be nae man's wife. "Foul fa the han' that I should take, It twin'd me an' my wardle's make." "Your cherry cheeks and yallow hair, Gars me gae maiden for evermair." [Illustration: 0056] Sometimes she sank, an' sometimes she swam, Till she cam down yon bonny mill dam; O out it came the miller's son, An' saw the fair maid swimmin' in. "O father, father, draw your dam! Here's either a mermaid, or a swan." The miller quickly drew the dam, An' there he found a drown'd woman; (_twin'd_, deprived). _wardles make_, life-mate.) You couldna see her yallow hair, For gold and pearl that were sae rare; You couldna see her middle sma,