FAIR HELEN OF KIRCONNELL I WISH I were where Helen lies! Curst be the heart that thought the And curst the hand that fired the shot, O thinkna ye my heart was sair, When my love dropt down and spak nae mair! There did she swoon wi' meikle care, 5 10 As I went down the water-side, I lighted down, my sword did draw, I hacked him in pieces sma', I hacked him in pieces sma', For her sake that died for me. 20 O Helen fair, beyond compare! O that I were where Helen lies! 25 30 On fair Kirconnell Lee. I wish my grave were growing green, A winding-sheet drawn ower my e'en, On fair Kirconnell Lee. I wish I were where Helen lies! For her sake that died for me. Scott, Minst. Scot. Bord. ROBIN HOOD'S DEATH WHEN Robin Hood and Little John Down a down, a down, a down Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood bold to Little John, 35 40 We have shot for many a pound. Hey, down, a down, a down. 66 But I am not able to shoot one shot more, Now Robin he is to fair Kirkley gone, But before he came there, as we do hear, And when he came to fair Kirkley-hall, He knocked all at the ring, But none was so ready as his cousin herself For to let bold Robin in. "Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin,” she said, 66 And drink some beer with me?" "No, I will neither eat nor drink, Till I am blooded by thee." 10 15 20 "Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, "Which you did never see, And if you please to walk therein, You blooded by me shall be." She took him by the lily-white hand, And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, 25 While one drop of blood would run down. 30 She blooded him in the vein of the arm, Then did he bleed all the live-long day, He then bethought him of a casement there, 35 Thinking for to get down; But was so weak he could not leap, He could not get him down. He then bethought him of his bugle-horn, Which hung low down to his knee; He set his horn unto his mouth, And blew out weak blasts three. Then Little John, when hearing him, 40 "I fear my master is now near dead, He blows so wearily." 45 Then Little John to fair Kirkley is gone, As fast as he can dree; But when he came to Kirkley-hall, He broke locks two or three: Until he came bold Robin to see, Then he fell on his knee; 50 "A boon, a boon," cries Little John, "Master, I beg of thee." "What is that boon," quoth Robin Hood, "Little John, [thou] begs of me?" 55 |