English and Scottish Ballads
Chapter 215 : When Rose the Red, and White Lilly, Saw their twa loves were gane, Sune did they drop

When Rose the Red, and White Lilly, Saw their twa loves were gane, Sune did they drop the loud loud sang, Took up the still mourning.

And out then spake her White Lilly; 45 "My sister, we'll be gane: Why suld we stay in Barnisdale, To mourn our bour within?"

O cutted hae they their green cloathing, A little abune their knee, 50 And sae hae they their yellow hair, A little abune their bree.

And left hae they that bonny bour, To cross the raging sea; And they hae ta'en to a holy chapel, 55 Was christened by Our Ladye.

And they hae changed their twa names, Sae far frae ony toun; And the tane o' them's hight Sweet Willie, And the tother's Rouge the Rounde. 60

Between the twa a promise is, And they hae sworn it to fulfil; Whenever the tane blew a bugle-horn, The tother suld c.u.m her till.

Sweet Willie's gane to the kings court, 65 Her true love for to see; And Rouge the Rounde to gude grene-wood, Brown Robin's man to be.

O it fell anes, upon a time, They putted at the stane; 70 And seven foot ayont them a', Brown Robin's gar'd it gang.

She lifted the heavy putting-stane, And gave a sad "Ohon!"

Then out bespake him, Brown Robin, 75 "But that's a woman's moan!"

"O kent ye by my rosy lips?

Or by my yellow hair?

Or kent ye by my milk-white breast, Ye never yet saw bare?" 80

"I kent na by your rosy lips; Nor by your yellow hair; But, c.u.m to your bour whaever likes, They'll find a ladye there."

"O gin ye come my bour within, 85 Through fraud, deceit, or guile, Wi' this same brand, that's in my hand, I vow I will thee kill."

"Yet durst I c.u.m into your bour, And ask nae leave," quo' he; 90 "And wi' this same brand, that's in my hand, Wave danger back on thee."

About the dead hour o' the night, The ladye's bour was broken; And, about the first hour o' the day, 95 The fair knave bairn was gotten.

When days were gane, and months were come, The ladye was sad and wan; And aye she cried for a bour woman, For to wait her upon. 100

Then up and spake him, Brown Robin, "And what needs this?" quo' he; "Or what can woman do for you, That canna be done by me?"

"'Twas never my mothers fas.h.i.+on," she said, 105 "Nor shall it e'er be mine, That belted knights should e're remain While ladyes dree'd their pain.

"But gin ye take that bugle-horn, And wind a blast sae shrill, 110 I hae a brother in yonder court, Will come me quickly till."

"O gin ye hae a brother on earth, That ye lo'e mair than me, Ye may blow the horn yoursell," he says, 115 "For a blast I winna gie."

She's ta'en the bugle in her hand, And blawn baith loud and shrill; Sweet William started at the sound, And came her quickly till. 120

O up and starts him, Brown Robin, And swore by Our Ladye, "No man shall come into this bour, But first maun fight wi' me."

O they hae fought the wood within, 125 Till the sun was going down; And drops o' blood frae Rose the Red Came pouring to the ground.

She leant her back against an aik, Said, "Robin, let me be; 130 For it is a ladye, bred and born, That has fought this day wi' thee."

O seven foot he started back, Cried, "Alas and woe is me!

For I wished never, in all my life, 135 A woman's bluid to see:

"And that all for the knightly vow I swore to Our Ladye; But mair for the sake o' ae fair maid, Whose name was White Lilly." 140

Then out and spake her Rouge the Rounde, And leugh right hertilie, "She has been wi' ye this year and mair, Though ye wistna it was she."

Now word is gane through all the land, 145 Before a month was gane, That a foresters page, in gude grene-wood, Had born a bonny son.

The marvel gaed to the kings court, And to the king himsell; 150 "Now, by my fae," the king did say, "The like was never heard tell!"

Then out and spake him Bauld Arthur, And laugh'd right loud and hie-- "I trow some may has plaid the lown, 155 And fled her ain countrie."

"Bring me my steid," the King can say, "My bow and arrows keen; And I'll gae hunt in yonder wood, And see what's to be seen." 160

"Gin it please your grace," quo' Bauld Arthur, "My liege, I'll gang you wi', And see gin I can meet a bonny page, That's stray'd awa frae me."

And they hae chased in gude green-wood, 165 The buck but and the rae, Till they drew near Brown Robin's bour, About the close o' day.

Then out an' spake the king himsell, Says, "Arthur, look and see, 170 Gin yon be not your favourite page, That leans against yon tree."

O Arthur's ta'en a bugle-horn, And blawn a blast sae shrill; Sweet Willie started to her feet, 175 And ran him quickly till.

"O wanted ye your meat, Willie, Or wanted ye your fee?

Or gat ye e'er an angry word, That ye ran awa frae me?" 180

"I wanted nought, my master dear; To me ye aye was good: I cam to see my ae brother, That wons in this grene-wood."

Then out bespake the King again,-- 185 "My boy, now tell to me, Who dwells into yon bigly bour, Beneath yon green aik tree?"

"O pardon me," said sweet w.i.l.l.y, "My liege, I darena tell; 190 And gangna near yon outlaw's bour, For fear they suld you kill."

"O haud your tongue, my bonny boy, For I winna be said nay; But I will gang yon bour within, 195 Betide me weal or wae."

They have lighted frae their milk-white steids, And saftlie entered in; And there they saw her, White Lilly, Nursing her bonny young son. 200

"Now, by the ma.s.s," the King he said, "This is a comely sight; I trow, instead of a forester's man, This is a ladye bright!"

O out and spake her, Rose the Red, 205 And fell low on her knee:-- "O pardon us, my gracious liege, And our story I'll tell thee.

"Our father is a wealthy lord, Lives into Barnisdale; 210 But we had a wicked step-mother, That wrought us meikle bale.

"Yet had she twa as fu' fair sons As e'er the sun did see; And the tane o' them lo'ed my sister deir, 215 And the tother said he lo'ed me."

Then out and cried him Bauld Arthur, As by the King he stood,-- "Now, by the faith of my body, This suld be Rose the Red!" 220

The king has sent for robes o' green, And girdles o' s.h.i.+ning gold; And sae sune have the ladyes busked themselves, Sae glorious to behold.

Then in and came him, Brown Robin, 225 Fra hunting o' the King's deer, But when he saw the King himsell, He started back for fear.