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.”