A Bundle of Ballads






EDWARD, EDWARD.

     "Why does your brand sae drop wi' bluid,
          Edward, Edward?
     Why does your brand sae drop wi' bluid,
          And why sae sad gang ye, O?"—
     "O, I ha'e kill-ed my hawk sae guid,
          Mither, mither!
     O, I ha'e kill-ed my hawk sae guid,
          And I had nae mair but he, O."—
     "Your hawkis bluid was never sae reid,
          Edward, Edward:
     Your hawkis bluid was never sae reid,
          My dear son, I tell thee, O."—

     "O, I ha'e kill-ed my reid-roan steed,
          Mither, mither!
     O, I ha'e kill-ed my reid-roan steed
          That erst was so fair and free, O."—
     "Your steed was auld, and ye ha'e got mair,
          Edward, Edward:
     Your steed was auld, and ye ha'e got mair,
          Some other dule ye dree, O."—
     "O, I ha'e kill-ed my father dear,
          Mither, mither!
     O, I ha'e kill-ed my father dear,
          Alas, and wae is me, O!"—

     "And whatten pen-ance will ye dree for that,
          Edward, Edward?
     And whatten pen-ance will ye dree for that?
          My dear son, now tell me, O!"—
     "I'll set my feet in yonder boat,
          Mither, mither
     I'll set my feet in yonder boat,
          And I'll fare over the sea, O."—
     "And what'll ye do wi' your towers and your ha',
          Edward, Edward?
     And what'll ye do wi' your towers and your ha',
          That were so fair to see, O?"—

     "I'll let them stand till they down fa',
          Mither, mither:
     I'll let them stand till they down fa',
          For here never mair maun I be, O!"—
     "And what'll ye leave to your bairns and your wife,
          Edward, Edward?
     And what'll ye leave to your bairns and your wife,
          When ye gang over the sea, O?"—
     "The warldis room, let them beg through life,
          Mither, mither:
     The warldis room, let them beg through life,
          For they never mair will I see, O!"

     "And what'll ye leave to your ain mother dear,
          Edward, Edward?
     And what'll ye leave to your ain mother dear?
          My dear son, now tell me, O."—
     "The curse of hell fra me sall ye bear,
          Mither, mither!
     The curse of hell fra me sall ye bear,—
          Sic counsels ye gave to me, O."

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