The Elfin Knight
No: 2; variant: 2I
- A LADY wonned on yonder hill,
Hee ba and balou ba
And she had musick at her will.
And the wind has blown my plaid awa
- Up and cam an auld, auld man,
Wi his blue bonnet in his han.
- 'I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye'll gang wi me.
- 'Ye maun mak to me a sark,
It maun be free o woman's wark.
- 'Ye maun shape it knife- sheerless,
And ye maun sew it needle- threedless.
- 'Ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Whare rain nor dew has ever fell.
- 'Ye maun dry it on yonder thorn,
Where leaf neer grew since man was born.'
- 'I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye'll neer get me.
- 'I hae a rig o bonnie land
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
- 'Ye maun plow it wi ae horse bane,
And harrow it wi ae harrow pin.
- 'Ye maun shear't wi a whang o leather,
And ye maun bind 't bot strap or tether.
- 'Ye maun stack it in the sea,
And bring the stale hame dry to me.
- 'Ye maun mak a cart o stane,
And yoke the wren and bring it hame.
- 'Ye maun thresh't atween your lufes,
And ye maun sack't atween your thies.'
- 'My curse on those wha learne:d thee;
This night I weend ye'd gane wi me.'