BURD ELLEN. Printed from Mrs. Brown's recitation, in Jamieson's Popular Ballads, i. 117. We have restored the text by omitting some interpolations of the editor, and three concluding stanzas by the same, which, contrary to all authority, gave a tragic turn to the story. LORD JOHN stood in his stable door, Said he was boun to ride; Burd Ellen stood in her bower door, Said she'd rin by his side. He's pitten on his cork-heel'd shoon, And after him ran she: Till they came till a wan water, Then he's lookit o'er his left shoulder, 10 "OI learnt it wi' my bower woman, And I learnt it for my weal, Whanever I cam to wan water, To swim like ony eel." But the firsten stap the lady stappit, "This water's o'er deep for me.” The nexten stap the lady stappit, The water came till her middle; And sighin says that gay lady, "I've wat my gouden girdle." The thirden stap the lady stappit, And the bairn that was in her twa sides "Lie still, lie still, my ain dear babe ; Ye work your mother wae: Cares little for us twae." O about the midst o' Clyde's water 15 90 25 30 He lightly turn'd his horse about, 35 "O tell me this now, good lord John, And a word ye dinna lie, How far it is to your lodgin, Whare we this night maun be?" "O see na ye yon castell, Ellen, "There is a lady in that castell I sall gang there and try.” "My dogs shall eat the good white bread, And ye shall eat the bran; Then will ye sigh, and say, alas! That ever I was a man!" "O I shall eat the good white bread, And your dogs shall eat the bran; And I hope to live to bless the day, That ever ye was a man.” "O my horse shall eat the good white meal, And ye sall eat the corn; Then will ye curse the heavy hour That ever your love was born." 40 45 50 55 [“O I shall eat the good white meal, That ever my love was born.” O four and twenty gay ladies Welcom❜d lord John to the ha’, O four and twenty gay ladies Welcom❜d lord John to the green; But a fairer lady than them a' At the manger stood alane. When bells were rung, and mass was sung, "O eat and drink, my bonny boy, The white bread and the beer."- 66 “O eat and drink, my bonny boy, The white bread and the wine." 65 70 75 80 62, 63, according to Jamieson, the same as vv. 54, 55, but here formed on their model, from 57, 58. "O how sall I eat or drink, master, Wi' heart sae fu' o' pine?" But out and spak lord John's mother, Sometimes his cheek is rosy red, And sometimes deadly wan; He's liker a woman big wi' bairn, 66 Than a young lord's serving man." "O it makes me laugh, my mother dear, That for love has followed me. "Rise up, rise up, my bonny boy, Gi'e my horse corn and hay." 66 "O that I will, my master dear, As quickly as I may." She's ta'en the hay under her arm, The corn intill her hand, And she's gane to the great stable, As fast as e'er she can. 85 90 95 100 "O room ye round, my bonny brown steeds, O room ye near the wa'; 106 |