Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org
A Book of Old English Ballads
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Texts
1. IntroductionGoethe, who saw so many things with such clearness of vision, brought out the charm of the popular ballad for readers of a later day in his remark that the value of these songs of the people is to be...2. Chevy Chace![[Pasted image 20250428231618.png]]
GOD prosper long our noble king,
Our liffes and safetyes all;
A woefull hunting once there did
In Chevy-C3. King Cophetua and the Beggar-Maid![[Pasted image 20250428231634.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250428231644.png]]
I READ that once in Affrica
A princely wight did raine,
Who had to name4. King Leir and his Three Daughters![[Pasted image 20250428231711.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250428231715.png]]
KING LEIR once rulèd in this land
With princely power and peace,
And h5. Fair Rosamond![[Pasted image 20250428232106.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250428232115.png]]
WHEN as King Henry rulde this land,
The second of that name,
Besides the6. Phillida and Corydon![[Pasted image 20250428232659.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250428232703.png]]
IN the merrie moneth of Maye,
In a morne by break of daye,
With a troope7. Fair Margaret and Sweet William![[Pasted image 20250428232728.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250428232732.png]]
As it fell out on a long summer's day,
Two lovers they sat on a hill;
Th8. Annan Water![[Pasted image 20250428233038.png]]
"ANNAN Water's wading deep,
And my love Annie's wondrous bonny;
I will keep my tryst to-night,
And win th9. The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington![[Pasted image 20250428233240.png]]
THERE was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe, And he was a squire's son;
He loved the bayliffe's daughter dear10. Barbara Allen's Cruelty![[Pasted image 20250428233301.png]]
ALL in the merry month of May,
When green buds they were swelling,
Young Jemmy Grove on his death-bed lay
Fo11. The Douglas Tragedy![[Pasted image 20250428233332.png]]
"RISE up, rise up, now, Lord Douglas," she says, "And put on your armour so bright;
Sweet William will hae Lady12. Young Waters![[Pasted image 20250428233419.png]]
ABOUT Yule, when the wind blew cool;
And the round tables began,
A' there is come to our king's court
Mony a13. Flodden Field![[Pasted image 20250428234328.png]]
KING JAMIE hath made a vow,
Keepe it well if he may:
That he will be at lovely London
Upon Saint James his d14. Helen of KirkconnellI WAD I were where Helen lies; Night and day on me she cries; O that I were where Helen lies, On fair Kirkconnell lea!15. Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale![[Pasted image 20250724213041.png]]
COME listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold ou16. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne![[Pasted image 20250724213224.png]]
WHEN shaws beene sheene, and shradds full fayre, And leaves both large and longe,
Itt is merrye walkyng in the17. Robin Hood's Death and Burial![[Pasted image 20250724213502.png]]
WHEN Robin Hood and Little John
_Down a down, a down, a down_,
Went o'er yon bank of broom,
Said Robin18. The Twa Corbies![[Pasted image 20250724213544.png]]
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a maen:
The tane unto the t'ither did say,
"Whaur shall w19. Waly, Waly, Love be Bonny![[Pasted image 20250724213839.png]]
O WALY, waly up the bank,
And waly, waly down the brae,
And waly, waly yon burn side,
Where I and my love20. The Nut-brown Maid![[Pasted image 20250724213948.png]]
BE it right, or wrong, these men among On women do complain;
Affirming this, how that it is A labour spent in v21. The Fause Lover![[Pasted image 20250724220256.png]]
A FAIR maid sat in her bower door,
Wringing her lily hands;
And by it came a sprightly youth,
Fast tripping22. The Mermaid![[Pasted image 20250724220317.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250724220320.png]]
To yon fause stream that, near the sea,
Hides mony an elf and plum,
An24. The Lament of the Border Widow![[Pasted image 20250724220809.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250724220812.png]]
MY love he built me a bonny bower,
And clad it a' wi' a lilye flower,
A br25. The Banks o' Yarrow![[Pasted image 20250724220900.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250724220904.png]]
LATE at e'en, drinking the wine,
And ere they paid the lawing,
They se27. Sir Patrick Spens![[Pasted image 20250724221014.png]]
THE king sits in Dunfermline town,
Drinking the blude-red wine;
"O whare will I get a skeely skipper,
ToA Book of Old English Ballads---SHOWING THE CRUELTY OF A JEW'S DAUGHTER![[Pasted image 20250724220941.png]]
FOUR and twenty bonny boys
Were playing at the ba',
And up it stands him sweet Sir Hugh,
The flower amongTHE FIRST FYTTE![[Pasted image 20250724220711.png]]
![[Pasted image 20250724220714.png]]
IT fell about the Lammas tide,
When husbands winn their hay,
The dough