ANCIENT BALLAD S. BALLAD I. LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELEANOR. L ORD Thomas he was a bold forestèr, And a chafer of the kings deer ; Fair Eleanor was a fine womàn, And Lord Thomas he lov'd her dear. Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, he faid, And riddle us both as one; Whether I shall marry with fair Eleanor, And let the brown girl alone? The 1 The brown girl she has got houfes and lands, Therefor I charge thee, on my blessing, To bring me the brown girl home. And as it befell on a high holidày, Lord Thomas he went to fair Eleanor, But when he came to fair Eleanors bower, But who was so ready as fair Eleanòr, What news, what news, lord Thomas? she said, I am come to bid thee to my wedding, O God forbid, lord Thomas, fhe faid, Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, fhe faid, Whether I fhall go to lord Thomases wedding, There's many that are your friends, daughtèr, There's many that are my friends, mother, She clothed herself in gallant attire, But when she came to lord Thomases gate, But who was fo ready as lord Thomàs, To let fair Eleanor in. Is this your bride fair Ellen she said, Methinks the looks wonderous brown ; You might have had as fair a womàn, Defpife her not, fair Ellen, he faid, Despise her not unto me; For better I love thy little-finger, This This brown bride had a little penknife, That was both long and sharp, Oh! Chrift now fave thee, lord Thomas, he said, Thou waft us'd for to look with as fresh a colòur, As ever the fun fhin'd on. Oh! art thou blind, lord Thomas? she said, Oh! doft thou not see my own hearts blood Lord Thomas he had a sword by his fide ; He cut off his brides head from her shouldèrs, He fet the hilt against the ground, And the point against his heart, There was never three lovers that ever met BALLAD II. FAIR MAGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM. S it fell out upon a day, Two lovers they sat on a hill; They fat together a long fummers day, And could not talk their fill. |