Part 28

Up then spak the nut-browne bride, She spak wi meikle spite: “And whair gat ye that rose-water, That does mak yee sae white?”

“O I did get the rose-water Whair ye wull neir get nane, For I did get that very rose-water Into my mither’s wame.”

The bride she drew a long bodkin Frae out her gay head-gear, And strake Fair Annet unto the heart, That word spak nevir mair.

Lord Thomas he saw Fair Annet wex pale, And marvelit what mote bee; But when he saw her dear heart’s blude, A’ wood-wroth wexed bee.

He drew his dagger that was sae sharp, That was sae sharp and meet, And drave it into the nut-browne bride, That fell deid at his feit.

“Now stay for me, dear Annet,” he sed, “Now stay, my dear,” he cry’d; Then strake the dagger untill his heart, And fell deid by her side.

Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa, Fair Annet within the quiere, And o the ane thair grew a birk, The other a bonny briere.

And ay they grew, and ay they threw, As they wad faine be neare; And by this ye may ken right weil They were twa luvers deare.

FAIR ANNIE

(Child, Part III., p. 69.)

“IT’S narrow, narrow, make your bed, And learn to lie your lane: For I’m ga’n oer the sea, Fair Annie, A braw bride to bring hame. Wi her I will get gowd and gear; Wi you I neer got nane.

“But wha will bake my bridal bread, Or brew my bridal ale? And wha will welcome my brisk bride, That I bring oer the dale?”

“It’s I will bake your bridal bread, And brew your bridal ale, And I will welcome your brisk bride, That you bring oer the dale.”

“But she that welcomes my brisk bride Maun gang like maiden fair; She maun lace on her robe sae jimp, And braid her yellow hair.”

“But how can I gang maiden-like, When maiden I am nane? Have I not born seven sons to thee, And am with child again?”

She’s taen her young son in her arms, Another in her hand, And she’s up to the highest tower, To see him come to land.

“Come up, come up, my eldest son, And look oer yon sea-strand, And see your father’s new-come bride, Before she come to land.”

“Come down, come down, my mother dear, Come frae the castle wa! I fear, if langer ye stand there, Ye’ll let yoursell down fa.”

And she gaed down, and farther down, Her love’s ship for to see, And the topmast and the mainmast Shone like the silver free.

And she’s gane down, and farther down, The bride’s ship to behold, And the topmast and the mainmast They shone just like the gold.

She’s taen her seven sons in her hand, I wot she didna fail; She met Lord Thomas and his bride, As they came oer the dale.

“You’re welcome to your house, Lord Thomas, You’re welcome to your land; You’re welcome with your fair ladye, That you lead by the hand.

“You’re welcome to your ha’s, ladye, You’re welcome to your bowers; Your welcome to your hame, ladye, For a’ that’s here is yours.”

“I thank thee, Annie; I thank thee, Annie, Sae dearly as I thank thee; You’re the likest to my sister Annie, That ever I did see.

“There came a knight out oer the sea, And steald my sister away; The shame scoup in his company, And land where’er he gae!”

She hang ae napkin at the door, Another in the ha, And a’ to wipe the trickling tears, Sae fast as they did fa.

And aye she served the lang tables With white bread and with wine, And aye she drank the wan water, To had her colour fine.

And aye she served the lang tables, With white bread and with brown; And aye she turned her round about, Sae fast the tears fell down.