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4 For da king o Ferrie we his daert, Has pierced your lady to da hert.'

5 And aifter dem da king has gaen, But whan he cam it was a grey stane.

6 Dan he took oot his pipes ta play, Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

7 And first he played da notes o noy, An dan he played da notes o joy.

8 An dan he played da göd gabber reel," Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.

9Noo come ye in inta wir ha, An come ye in among wis a'.

10 Now he's gane in inta der ha, An he 's gane in among dem a'.

11 Dan he took out his pipes to play,

Bit sair his hert wi döl an wae.

12 An first he played da notes o noy,

An dan he played da notes o joy.

13 An dan he played da göd gabber reel, Dat meicht ha made a sick hert hale.

ΤΟ

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14 Noo tell to us what ye will hae: What sall we gie you for your play?' 30 15 What I will hae I will you tell, An dat's me Lady Isabel.'

16 'Yees tak your lady, an yees gaeng hame,

An yees be king ower a' your ain.'

17 He's taen his lady, an he's gaen hame, An noo he's king ower a' his ain.

ŠT. STEPHEN AND HEROD'

1 SEYNT Stevene was a clerk in kyng Herowdes halle,

And servyd him of bred and clop,10 as every kyng befalle.

2 Stevyn out of kechone 11 cam, wyth boris hed on honde;

He saw a sterre was fayr and bryst over
Bedlem stonde.

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6 Lakit me neyper mete ne drynk in kyng Herowdes halle;

per is a chyld in Bedlem born is beter pan we alle.'

7 Quat eylyt pe, Stevyn? art þu wod,14 or pu gynnyst to brede ? 15

Lakkyt pe eyper gold or fe, or ony ryche wede ?"

This version is as old as the fifteenth century. With it may be compared the eighteenth-century carol, The Carnel (Crow) and the Crane, No. 55 in the SargentKittredge volume. 10 cloth. th is written b throughout the ballad. 12 What aileth.

11 kitchen.

13 Do

you lack. 14 mad. 15 wander, rave (probably).

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THE TWA CORBIES

1 As I was walking all alane,

I heard twa corbies making a mane 7; The tane unto the t'other say, 'Where sall we gang and dine to-day?'

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2 'In behint yon auld fail dyke,
I wot there lies a new slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair.

3 His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, 10
His lady's ta'en another mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.

4 Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane,"
And I'll pike out his bonny blue een;
Wi ae lock o his gowden hair
We'll theek 10 our nest when it grows
bare.

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5 Her head hat the reef-tree 1o the house,
Her middle ye mot wel span;
He's thrown to her his gay mantle,
Says,Lady, hap your lingcan.'2

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6 Her teeth was a' like teather stakes,
Her nose like club or mell; &
An I ken naething she 'peard to be,
But the fiend that wons in hell.

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14 And he's sewd up the bloody hide,
A puncheon o wine put in;
She drank it a' up at a waught,5
Left na ae drap ahin.

15 A bed, a bed, now, King Henry, A bed you mak to me!

For ye maun pu the heather green,
An mak a bed to me.'

7 'Some meat, some meat, ye King Henry, 16 O pu'd has he the heather green, Some meat ye gi to me!'

'An what meat 's in this house, lady, An what ha I to gie?'

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ye do kill your berry-brown steed, An you bring him here to me.'

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8 O whan he slew his berry-brown steed,

Wow but his heart was sair!

Shee eat him [a'] up, skin an bane,
Left neathing but hide an hair.

An made to her a bed, An up has he taen his gay mantle,

An oer it has he spread.

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9 'Mair meat, mair meat, ye King Henry, 18 Whan night was gane, and day was Mair meat ye gi to me!'

'An what meat 's in this house, lady, An what ha I to gi?'

"O ye do kill your good gray-hounds,
An ye bring them a' to me.'

10 O whan he slew his good gray-hounds,
Wow but his heart was sair!
She eat them a' up, skin an bane,
Left naething but hide an hair.

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7 Here is a royal belt,' she cried,

'That I have found in the green sea; And while your body it is on,

Drawn shall your blood never be; 30 But if you touch me, tail or fin,

I vow my belt your death shall be.'

8 He stepped in, gave her a kiss,

The royal belt he brought him wi; Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,

And twisted twice about the tree, And with a swing she came about: 'Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with

me.

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9 'Here is a royal ring,' she said, 'That I have found in the green sea; And while your finger it is on, Drawn shall your blood never be; But if you touch me, tail or fin, I swear my ring your death shall be.'

10 He stepped in, gave her a kiss,

The royal ring he brought him wi;
Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
And twisted ance about the tree,
And with a swing she came about:
'Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with

me.

1 ransom.

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50

6 foot.

• Since.

4 world.

5 loathly.

7 combs it with a silver comb. ⚫ what.

10

20

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