English and Scottish Ballads Volume IV Part 10

"Why weep ye by the tide, lady? 25 Why weep ye by the tide?

How blythe and happy might he be Gets you to be his bride!

Gets you to be his bride, fair maid, And him I'll no bemean; 30 But when I take my words again, Whom call ye Hazelgreen?

"What like a man was Hazelgreen?

Will ye show him to me?"

"He is a comely proper youth, 35 I in my sleep did see; Wi' arms tall, and fingers small,-- He's comely to be seen;"

And aye she loot the tears down fall For John o' Hazelgreen. 40

"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen, And go along with me, I'll wed you to my eldest son, Make you a lady free."

"It's for to wed your eldest son 45 I am a maid o'er mean; I'll rather stay at home," she says, "And die for Hazelgreen."

"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen, And go along with me, 50 I'll wed you to my second son, And your weight o' gowd I'll gie."

"It's for to wed your second son I am a maid o'er mean; I'll rather stay at home," she says, 55 "And die for Hazelgreen."

Then he's taen out a siller comb, Comb'd down her yellow hair; And looked in a diamond bright, To see if she were fair. 60 "My girl, ye do all maids surpa.s.s That ever I have seen; Cheer up your heart, my lovely la.s.s, And hate young Hazelgreen."

"Young Hazelgreen he is my love, 65 And ever mair shall be; I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen For a' the gowd ye'll gie."

But aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!

And made a piteous meen; 70 And aye she loot the tears down fa', For John o' Hazelgreen.

He looked high, and lighted low, Set her upon his horse; And they rode on to Edinburgh, 75 To Edinburgh's own cross.

And when she in that city was, She look'd like ony queen; "'Tis a pity such a lovely la.s.s Shou'd love young Hazelgreen." 80

"Young Hazelgreen, he is my love, And ever mair shall be; I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen For a' the gowd ye'll gie."

And aye she sigh'd, and said, alas! 85 And made a piteous meen; And aye she loot the tears down fa', For John o' Hazelgreen.

"Now hold your tongue, my well-far'd maid, Lat a' your mourning be, 90 And a' endeavours I shall try, To bring that youth to thee; If ye'll tell me where your love stays, His stile and proper name."

"He's laird o' Taperbank," she says, 95 "His stile, Young Hazelgreen."

Then he has coft for that lady A fine silk riding gown; Likewise he coft for that lady A steed, and set her on; 100 Wi' menji feathers in her hat, Silk stockings and siller sheen; And they are on to Taperbank, Seeking young Hazelgreen.

They nimbly rode along the way, 105 And gently spurr'd their horse, Till they rode on to Hazelgreen, To Hazelgreen's own close.

Then forth he came, young Hazelgreen, To welcome his father free; 110 "You're welcome here, my father dear, And a' your companie."

But when he look'd o'er his shoulder, A light laugh then gae he; Says, "If I getna this lady, 115 It's for her I must die; I must confess this is the maid I ance saw in a dream, A walking thro' a pleasant shade, As fair's a cypress queen." 120

"Now hold your tongue, young Hazelgreen, Lat a' your folly be; If ye be wae for that lady, She's thrice as wae for thee.

She's thrice as wae for thee, my son; 125 As bitter doth complain; Well is she worthy o' the rigs That lie on Hazelgreen."

He's taen her in his arms twa, Led her thro' bower and ha'; 130 "Cheer up your heart, my dearest dear, Ye're flower out o'er them a'.

This night shall be our wedding e'en, The morn we'll say, Amen; Ye'se never mair hae cause to mourn,-- 135 Ye're lady o' Hazelgreen."

THE FAUSE LOVER.

From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 268. The fourth and fifth stanzas are found as a fragment in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 6, (ed. 1776,) thus:

"False luve, and hae ze played me this, In the simmer, mid the flowers?

I sall repay ze back again, In the winter mid the showers.

"Bot again, dear luve, and again, dear luve, Will ze not turn again?

As ze look to ither women Shall I to ither men."

Sir Walter Scott, also, as Chambers has pointed out, has, in _Waverley_, put two similar stanzas into the mouth of Davie Gellatley.

"False love, and hast thou played me this, In summer, among the flowers?

I will repay thee back again, In winter, amid the showers.

"Unless again, again, my love, Unless ye turn again, As you with other maidens rove, I'll smile on other men."

A fair maid sat in her bower door, Wringing her lily hands; And by it came a sprightly youth, Fast tripping o'er the strands.

"Where gang ye, young John," she says, 5 "Sae early in the day?

It gars me think, by your fast trip, Your journey's far away."

He turn'd about wi' surly look, And said, "What's that to thee? 10 I'm gaen to see a lovely maid, Mair fairer far than ye."

"Now hae ye play'd me this, fause love, In simmer, 'mid the flowers?

I sall repay ye back again, 15 In winter, 'mid the showers.

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love, Will ye not turn again?

For as ye look to ither women, Shall I to ither men." 20

"Make your choose o' whom you please, For I my choice will have; I've chosen a maid mair fair than thee, I never will deceive."

But she's kilt up her claithing fine, 25 And after him gaed she; But aye he said, "ye'll turn back, Nae farder gang wi' me."

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love, Will ye never love me again? 30 Alas! for loving you sae well, And you nae me again."

The first an' town that they came till, He bought her brooch and ring; But aye he bade her turn again, 35 And gang nae farder wi' him.

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love, Will ye never love me again?

Alas! for loving you sae well, And you nae me again." 40

The niest an' town that they came till, His heart it grew mair fain; And he was deep in love wi' her, As she was ower again.

The niest an' town that they came till, 45 He bought her wedding gown; And made her lady o' ha's and bowers, In bonny Berwick town.

THE GARDENER.

From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 74. The last stanza but one is found in the preceding ballad. Another copy is given by Buchan, _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 187.