John of Hazelgreen
No: 293; variant: 293B
- IT was on a morning early,
Before day-licht did appear,
I heard a pretty damsel
Making a heavy bier;
Making a heavy bier,
I wonderd what she did mean;
But ay the tears they rappit doun,
Crying, O Jock o Hazelgreen!
- 'O whare is this Hazelgreen, maid?
That I may him see.'
'He is a ticht and a proper man,
Lives in the South Cuntree.
His shoulders broad, his arms lang,
O he's comely to be seen!'----
But ay the tears they drappit doun
For Jock o Hazelgreen.
- 'Will ye gang wi me, fair maid?
. . . . . . .
And I'll marry ye on my son,'
. . . . . . .
'Afore I'd go along wi you,
To be married on your son,
I'd rather choose to stay at hame,
And die for Hazelgreen.'
- But he has tane her up behind,
And spurred on his horse,
Till ance he cam to Embro toun,
And lichted at the corss.
He bought to her a petticoat,
Besides a handsome goun;
He tied a silver belt about her waist,
Worth thrice three hunder pund.
- And whan he cam to Hazelyetts,
He lichted doun therein;
Monie war the brave ladies there,
Monie ane to be seen.
She lichted doun amang them aw,
She seemed to be the queen;
But ay the tears they rappit doun
For Jock o Hazelgreen.
- Young Hazelgreen took her by the hand
And led her out and in:
Said, Bonnie lady, for your sake,
I could be baith rent and rien;
I wad gie aw my lands and rents,
Tho I had kingdoms three,
If I could hae the great pleasure
To enjoy thy fair bodie.
- 'No more of this,' his father said,
'Of your mourning let abee;
I brought the damsel far frae hame,
She's thrice as wae for thee.
The morn is your bridal-day,
The nicht is your bridal-een,
And I'll gie you aw my lands and rents,
My pleasing son, Hazelgreen.'