Lamkin
No: 93; variant: 93[Y]
- Lie in your room, my wife,
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
- 'You'll fasten doors and windows,
you'll fasten them out an in,
For if you leave ae window open
Lammikin will come in.'
- They've fastened doors an windows,
they've fastened them out an in,
But they have left ae window open,
and Lammikin cam in.
- 'O where are a' the women
that dwell here within?'
'They're at the well washin,
and they will not come in.'
- 'O where are a' the men
that dwell here within?'
'They're at the . . . . ,
and they will not come in.'
- 'O where is the lady
that dwells here within?'
'She's up the stair dressin,
and she will not come doun.'
- 'It's what will we do
to mak her come doun?
We'll rock the cradle, nourrice,
an mak her come doun.'
- They [hae] rocked the cradle
to mak her come doun,
. . . . . .
the red bluid out sprung.
- 'O still the bairn, nourrice,
O still him wi the bell:;
'He winna still, my lady,
till ye come doun yersel.'
- The first step she steppit,
it was upon a stane;
The next step she steppit,
she keppit Lammikin.
- 'O mercy, mercy, Lammikin,
hae mercy upo me!
Tho ye hae killed my young son,
ye may lat mysel abee.'
- 'O it's will I kill her, nourrice,
or will I lat her be?'
'O kill her, kill her, Lammikin,
she neer was gude to me.'
- 'O it's wanted ye your meat?
or wanted ye your fee?'
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
- 'I wanted not my meat,
I wanted not my fee,
But I wanted some bounties
That ladies can gie.'