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Legends & Sagas
England
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50: The Bonny Hind
50.1 O MAY she comes, and may she goes,
Down by yon gardens green,
And there she spied a gallant squire
As squire had ever been.
50.2 And may she comes, and may she goes,
Down by yon hollin tree,
And there she spied a brisk young squire,
And a brisk young squire was he.
50.3 Give me your green manteel, fair maid,
Give me your maidenhead;
Gif ye winna gie me your green manteel,
Gi me your maidenhead.
50.4 He has taen her by the milk-white hand,
And softly laid her down,
And when hes lifted her up again
Given her a silver kaim.
50.5 Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir,
Perhaps there may be nane;
But if you be a courtier,
Youll tell to me your name.
50.6 I am nae courtier, fair maid,
But new come frae the sea;
I am nae courtier, fair maid,
But when I courtith thee.
50.7 They call me Jack when Im abroad,
Sometimes they call me John;
But when Im in my fathers bower
Jock Randal is my name.
50.8 Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad,
Sae louds I hear ye lee!
Ffor Im Lord Randals yae daughter,
He has nae mair nor me.
50.9 Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny may,
Sae louds I hear ye lee!
For Im Lord Randals yae yae son,
Just now come oer the sea.
50.10 Shes putten her hand down by her spare,
And out shes taen a knife,
And she has putnt in her hearts bluid,
And taen away her life.
50.11 And hes taen up his bonny sister,
With the big tear in his een,
And he has buried his bonny sister
Amang the hollins green.
50.12 And syne hes hyed him oer the dale,
His father dear to see:
Sing O and O for my bonny hind,
Beneath yon hollin tree!
50.13 1 What needs you care for your bonny hyn?
For it you needna care;
Theres aught score hyns in yonder park,
And five score hyns to spare.
50.14 Four score of them are siller-shod,
Of thae ye may get three;
But O and O for my bonny hyn,
Beneath yon hollin tree!
50.15 What needs you care for your bonny hyn?
For it you need na care;
Take you the best, gi me the warst,
Since plenty is to spare.
50.16 I care na for your hyns, my lord,
I care na for your fee;
But O and O for my bonny hyn,
Beneath the hollin tree!
50.17 O were ye at your sisters bower,
Your sister fair to see,
Yell think na mair o your bonny hyn
Beneath the hollin tree.
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Next: 51. Lizie Wan