The Elfin Knight
No: 2; variant: 2[M]
- As I went up to the top o yon hill,
Every rose springs merry in' t' time
I met a fair maid, an her name it was Nell.
An she langed to be a true lover o mine
- 'Ye'll get to me a cambric sark,
An sew it all over without thread or needle.
Before that ye be, etc.
- 'Ye'll wash it doun in yonder well,
Where water neer ran an dew never fell.
- 'Ye'll bleach it doun by yonder green,
Where grass never grew an wind never blew.
- 'Ye'll dry it doun on yonder thorn,
That never bore blossom sin Adam was born.'
- 'Four questions ye have asked at me,
An as mony mair ye'll answer me.
- 'Ye'll get to me an acre o land
Atween the saut water an the sea sand.
- 'Ye'll plow it wi a ram's horn,
An sow it all over wi one peppercorn.
- 'Ye'll shear it wi a peacock's feather,
An bind it all up wi the sting o an adder.
- 'Ye'll stook it in yonder saut sea,
An bring the dry sheaves a' back to me.
- 'An when ye've done and finished your wark,
Ye'll come to me, an ye'se get your sark.'
An then shall ye be true lover o mine