The Oxford Book of Ballads - online book

A Selection Of The Best English Lyric Ballads Chosen & Edited by Arthur Quiller-Couch

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Easter Hymns



Share page  Visit Us On FB

Previous Contents Next
JAMIE TELFER IN THE FAIR DODHEAD
XXXI
' O will ye let Telfer's kye gae back ?
Or will ye do aught for regard o' me ? Or, by the faith of my body,' quo' Willie Scott,
' I'se ware my dame's cauf skin on thee ! '—
XXXII
'1 winna let the kye gae back,
Neither for thy love, nor yet thy fear; But I will drive Jamie Telfer's kye,
In spite of every Scott that's here.'— xxxm ' Set on them, lads ! ' quo' Willie than ;
' Fye, lads, set on them cruellie! For ere they win to the Ritterford,
Mony a toom saddle there sail be ! '
XXXIV
Then till't they gaed wi' heart and hand, The blows fell thick as bickering hail;
And mony a horse ran masterless, And mony a comely cheek was pale.
XXXV
But Willie was stricken ower the head,
And thro' the knapscap the sword has gane;
And Harden grat for very rage,
Whan Willie on the grund lay slane.
XXXVI
But he's ta'en afFhis gude steel cap, And thrice he 's waved it in the air—
The Dinlay snaw was ne'er mair white Nor the lyart locks of Harden's hair.
ware, &c] spend, use my mother's calf-skin whip.         toom]
empty. till 'tj to it. knapscap] headpiece. gTat] wept, lyart] grizzled.
743
Previous Contents Next