English Songs and Ballads Part 45

My mind her form shall still retain, In sleeping, or in waking, Until I see my love again, For whom my heart is breaking.

If ever I return that way, And she should not decline me, I evermore will live and stay With the girl I've left behind me.

EDWARD! EDWARD!

SIR DAVID DALRYMPLE

'Why does your brand so drop with blood?

Edward! Edward!

Why does your brand so drop with blood?

And why so sad go ye, O?'

'O! I have killed my hawk so good, Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my hawk so good, And I have no more but he, O!'

'Your hawk's blood was never so red, Edward! Edward!

Your hawk's blood was never so red, My dear son, I tell thee, O!'

'O! I have killed my red roan steed, Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my red roan steed, That once was fair and free, O!'

'Your steed was old and ye have got more, Edward! Edward!

Your steed was old and ye have got more, Some other dule you drie, O!'

'O! I have killed my father dear, Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my father dear, Alas, and woe is me, O!'

'And what penance will ye drie for that?

Edward! Edward!

And what penance will ye drie for that?

My dear son, now tell me, O!'

'I'll set my feet in yonder boat, Mother! Mother!

I'll set my feet in yonder boat, And I'll fare over the sea, O!'

'And what will you do with your towers and your hall?

Edward! Edward!

And what will you do with your towers and your hall?

They were so fair to see, O!'

'I'll let them stand till they down fall, Mother! Mother!

I'll let them stand till they down fall, For here never more must I be, O!'

'And what will you leave to your bairns and your wife?

Edward! Edward!

And what will you leave to your bairns and your wife?

When you go over the sea, O!'

'The world's room, let them beg through life, Mother! Mother!

The world's room, let them beg through life, For them never more will I see, O!'

'And what will you leave to your own mother dear?

Edward! Edward!

And what will you leave to your own mother dear?

My dear son, now tell me, O!'

'The curse of h.e.l.l from me shall you bear, Mother! Mother!

The curse of h.e.l.l from me shall you bear, Such counsels you gave to me, O!'

O NANNY, WILT THOU GO WITH ME?

THOMAS PERCY

O Nanny, wilt thou go with me, Nor sigh to leave the flaunting town?

Can silent glens have charms for thee,-- The lowly cot and russet gown?

No longer drest in silken sheen, No longer deck'd with jewels rare,-- Say, canst thou quit each courtly scene, Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

O Nanny, when thou'rt far away, Wilt thou not cast a wish behind?

Say, canst thou face the parching ray, Nor shrink before the wintry wind?

Oh, can that soft and gentle mien Extremes of hards.h.i.+p learn to bear, Nor sad, regret each courtly scene, Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

O Nanny, canst thou love so true, Through perils keen with me to go, Or when thy swain mishap shall rue, To share with him the pang of woe?

Say, should disease or pain befall, Wilt thou a.s.sume the nurse's care, Nor wistful those gay scenes recall, Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

And when at last thy love shall die, Wilt thou receive his parting breath, Wilt thou repress each struggling sigh, And cheer with smiles the bed of death?

And wilt thou o'er his breathless clay Strew flowers and drop the tender tear, Nor then regret those scenes so gay, Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

THE FRIAR OF ORDERS GRAY

It was a friar of orders gray Walk'd forth to tell his beads; And he met with a lady fair Clad in a pilgrim's weeds.

'Now Christ thee save, thou reverend friar, I pray thee tell to me, If ever at yon holy shrine My true love thou didst see.'

'And how should I know your true-love From many another one?'

'Oh, by his c.o.c.kle-hat and staff, And by his sandal shoon.

'But chiefly by his face and mien, That were so fair to view; His flaxen locks that sweetly curl'd, And eyes of lovely blue.'