SKIEN ANNA; FAIR ANNIE, See p. 191. TRANSLATED in Jamieson's Popular Ballads, ii. 103, from Syv's Kjæmpe Viser. See another copy in Nyerup's Danske Viser, iv. 59. THE reivers they wad a stealing gang, To steal sae far frae hame; And stown ha'e they the king's daughter, They've carried her into fremmit lands, Mickle goud and white money. And eight lang years o' love sae leal Had past atween them twae; And now a bonny bairntime O' seven fair sons had they. That lord he was of Meckelborg land, Of princely blood and stemme; And for his worth and curtesy That lord a king became. 10 15 But little wist that noble king, As little his barons bald, That it was the king of England's daughter, Had sae to him been sald! And eight lang years sae past and gane, Fair Annie now may rue; For now she weets in fremmit lands Anither bride he'll wooe. 20 Fair Annie's till his mither gane; 25 Fell low down on her knee; "A boon, a boon, now lady mither, Ye grant your oys and me! "If ever ye kist, if ever ye blest, And bade them thrive and thee, 30 O save them now frae scaith and scorn, "Their father's pride may yet relent; His mither's rede he'll hear; Nor for anither break the heart "He had my love and maiden pride; I had nae mair to gi'e; He well may fa' a brighter bride, "A brighter bride he ne'er can fa'; A richer well he may; But daughter dearer nor Fair Annie, His mither ne'er can ha'e." 35 40 "Her love, her life, her maiden fame, Wi' you she shar'd them a'; Now share wi' her your bridal bed; "To my bridal bed, my mither dear, Fair Annie ne'er can win; I coft her out of fremmit lands, Nor ken her kith or kin." And he's gard write a braid letter, His wedding to ordein; And to betrothe anither bride To be his noble queen. 55 60 Fair Annie up at her bower window 65 "O God, my heavenly Father! gif My heart mat brast in twae!" Fair Annie stood at her bower window, 70 That lord is to Fair Annie gane : Says, "Annie, thou winsome may, O whatten a gude gift will ye gi'e My bride on her bridal day?” "I'll gi'e her a gift, and a very gude gift, And a dear-bought gift to me; For I'll gi'e her my seven fair sons, pages for to be." Her "O that is a gift, but nae gude gift, Frae thee, Fair Annie, I ween; And ye maun gi'e some richer gift Befitting a noble queen." "I'll gi'e her a gift, and a dear, dear gift, And a gift I brook wi' care; For I'll gi'e her my dearest life, That I dow brook nae mair." "O that is a gift, but a dowie gift, Now, Annie, thou winsome may; Ye maun gi'e her your best goud girdle, "Oh na, that girdle she ne'er shall fa’; That I can never bear; The luckless morn I gave you a', Ye gae me that girdle to wear." That lord before his bride gan 66 stand: My noble bride and queen! O whatten a gift to my lemman Annie Will now by you be gi'en?" 75 80 85 90 100 “I'll gi'e her a gift, and a very gude gift, My lord the king,” said she ; "For I'll gi'e her my auld shoe to wear, Best fitting her base degree." "O that is a gift, but nae gude gift, And ye maun gi’e her anither gift, "Then I'll gi'e her a very gude gift, My lord the king,” said she ; "I'll gie her my millers seven, that lig Sae far ayont the sea. "Well are they fed, well are they clad, And live in heal and weal; And well they ken to measure out The wheat, but and caneel." Fair Annie says, "My noble lord, This boon ye grant to me; Let me gang up to the bridal bower, “O gangna, Annie, gangna, there, Nor come that bower within; Ye maunna come near that bridal bower, Fair Annie is till his mither gane: “O lady mither,” said she, "May I gang to the bridal bower, My lord's new bride to see?" 105 110 116 120 125 |