THE TWA SISTERS

There was twa sisters in a bowr

(Edinburgh, Edinburgh);

There was twa sisters in a bowr

(Stirling for ay);

There was twa sisters in a bowr:

There came a knight to be their wooer

(Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay).

He courted the eldest wi glove an ring,
But he lovd the youngest above a' thing.

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He courted the eldest wi brotch an knife,
But lovd the youngest as his life.

ΙΟ

The eldest she was vexed sair,
An much envi'd her sister fair.

Into her bowr she could not rest:
Wi grief an spite she almos brast.

Upon a morning fair an clear,
She cried upon her sister dear:

"O sister, come to yon sea stran,

An see our father's ships come to lan.”

She's taen her by the milk-white han,
An led her down to yon sea stran.

The youngest stood upon a stane:
The eldest came an threw her in.

An yes get my goud and my gouden girdle!

"O sister, sister, save my life,

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An I swear Ise never be nae man's wife!"

"Foul fa the han that I should tacke! It twind me an my wardles make.

"Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair Gars me gae maiden for evermair."

Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam,
Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam.

O, out it came the miller's son,

An saw the fair maid swimmin in:

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"O father, father, draw your dam! Here's either a mermaid or a swan."

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The miller quickly drew the dam,
And there he found a drownd woman.

You coudna see her yallow hair

For gold and pearle that were so rare.

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You coudna see her middle sma
For gouden girdle that was sae braw.

You coudna see her fingers white
For gouden rings that was sae gryte.

Was "Farewell to my father, the King."

The nextin tune that he playd syne,

Was "Farewell to my mother, the Queen."

The lasten tune that he playd then,

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Was "Wae to my sister, fair Ellen."

THE CRUEL BROTHER

A gentleman cam oure the sea
(Fine flowers in the valley),
And he has courted ladies three

(With the light green and the yellow).

One o them was clad in red:

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He asked if she wad be his bride.

One o them was clad in green:
He asked if she wad be his queen.

The last o them was clad in white:

He asked if she wad be his heart's delight.

ΙΟ

"Ye may ga ask my father, the King; Sae maun ye ask my mither, the Queen;

"Sae maun ye ask my sister Anne; And dinna forget my brither John."

He has asked her father, the King;

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And sae did he her mither, the Queen;

And he has asked her sister Anne;
But he has forgot her brother John.
Her father led her through the ha;
Her mither danced afore them a';

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Her sister Anne led her through the closs;
Her brither John set her on her horse.

It's then he drew a little penknife,
And he reft the fair maid o her life.

"Ride up, ride up," said the foremost man; "I think our bride comes hooly on."

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"Ride up, ride up," said the second man;
"I think our bride looks pale and wan."

Up than cam the gay bridegroom,
And straucht unto the bride he cam.

"Does your side-saddle sit awry?
Or does your steed . . . .

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"Or does the rain run in your glove?

Or wad ye chuse anither love?"

"The rain runs not in my glove,

Nor will I e'er chuse anither love.

"But O an I war at Saint Evron's well, There I wad licht, and drink my fill!

"Oh an I war at Saint Evron's closs, There I wad licht, and bait my horse!" Whan she cam to Saint Evron's well,

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She dought na licht to drink her fill.

Whan she cam to Saint Evron's closs,

The bonny bride fell aff her horse.

"What will ye leave to your father, the King?” "The milk-white steed that I ride on."

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"What will ye leave to your mother, the Queen?" "The bluidy robes that I have on."

"What will ye leave to your sister Anne?" "My gude lord, to be wedded on."

"What will ye leave to your brither John?” "The gallows-pin to hang him on."

"What will ye leave to your brither's wife?" "Grief and sorrow a' the days o her life."

"What will ye leave to your brither's bairns?"
"The meal-pock to hang oure the arms."

Now does she neither sigh nor groan:
She lies aneath yon marble stone.

BABYLON, OR THE BONNIE BANKS O FORDIE

There were three ladies lived in a bower,

Eh vow bonnie,

And they went out to pull a flower

On the bonnie banks o Fordie.

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They hadna pu'ed a flower but ane,

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When up started to them a banisht man.

He's taen the first sister by her hand,

And he's turned her round and made her stand.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife, Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?”

ΙΟ

"It's I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife.”

He's killed this may, and he's laid her by
For to bear the red rose company.

He's taken the second ane by the hand,

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And he's turned her round and made her stand.

"It's whether will ye be a rank robber's wife,
Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?"
"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,
But I'll rather die by your wee pen-knife."

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He's killed this may, and he's laid her by
For to bear the red rose company.

He's taken the youngest ane by the hand,

And he's turned her round and made her stand;

Says, "Will ye be a rank robber's wife,

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Or will ye die by my wee pen-knife?"

"I'll not be a rank robber's wife,

Nor will I die by your wee pen-knife;

"For I hae a brother in this wood,

And gin ye kill me, it's he'll kill thee."

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"What's thy brother's name? Come tell to me." "My brother's name is Baby Lon."

"O sister, sister, what have I done!

O, have I done this ill to thee!

"O, since I've done this evil deed, Good sall never be seen o me."

He's taken out his wee pen-knife,

And he's twyned himsel o his ain sweet life.

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