Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 728 pages of information about Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3.

Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 728 pages of information about Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3.

     LORD RANDAL

     1.  Where hae ye been, Lord Randal, my son? 
        O where hae ye been, my handsome young man? 
        “I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon,
        For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

     2.  “Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son? 
        Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?”
        “I din’d wi’ my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
        For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

     3.  “What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son? 
        What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?”
        “I gat eels boiled in broo[95]; mother, make my bed soon,
        For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

     4.  “What became o’ your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son? 
        What became’ o’ your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?”
        “O they swell’d and they died; mother, make my bed soon,
        For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”

     5.  “O I fear you are poison’d, Lord Randal, my son! 
        O I fear you are poison’d, my handsome young man!”
        “O yes!  I’m poison’d; mother, make my bed soon,
        For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down[96].”

[Footnote 95:  Broth.]

[Footnote 96:  Frogs, toads, snakes, and the like were often
served for fish, and of course were supposed to act as a
poison.  One variant has a verse to elaborate this:—­

“Where gat she those eels, Lord Randal, my son? 
Where gat she those eels, my handsome young man?”
“‘Neath the bush o’ brown bracken; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.”
]

EDWARD[97]

1.  “Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee O?”
“O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair hot hee O.”

2.  “Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward,
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee O.” 
“O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie O.”

3.  “Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie O[98].” 
“O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O!”

4.  “And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that,
Edward, Edward,
And whatten penance wul ye drie, for that? 
My deir son, now tell me O.” 
“I’ll set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither,
I’ll set my feit in yonder boat,
And I’ll fare over the sea O.”

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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.