The Cage of Ivory and Gold- DeCoster (ME) 1925 Barry A
[Barry, Eckstrom, and Symthe; British Ballads from Maine, 1929.
R. Matteson 2014]
THE FALSE-HEARTED KNIGHT (Lady Isabel and. the Elf-Knight, Child 4)
A. "The Cage or Ivory and Gold." Sent in, September, 1925, by Mr. Justin DeCoster, Buckfield.
1. "Come, bring me down your daddy's gold,
Likewise your mammy's fee,
And two of the best horses in his stable,
Where there are thirty and three."
2 She bro't down all her daddy's gold,
Likewise her mammy's fee,
And two of the best horses in his stable,
Where there were thirty and three.
3 He mounted on the bonny brown
And she on the tabby gray,
And they rode till they came to the salt sea side
All on a summer's day.
4 "Dismount, dismount, my pretty Polly,
Dismount and come with me;
For six knights' daughters I've drowned here
And you the seventh shall be."
5 "If six knights' daughters you've drowned here,
'Tis not what you promised me
You promised you'd carry me to merry green land
And there you'd marry me."
6 "Come strip, come strip, my pretty Polly,
Come strip as fast as you can;
For it is not fitting that such gay clothes
Should rot in the salt sea sand."
7 "Then turn your face to the salt sea side
Your back to the willow tree,
For it is not fitting that a rebel so vile
A naked woman should see."
8 He turned his face to the salt sea side,
His back to the willow tree,
She clasped her arms around his waist
And plunged him into the sea.
9 "Lie there, lie there, you vile rebel,
Lie there in the room[1] of me;
For if six knights daughters you've drowned here,
Yourself the seventh shall be.
10 She mounted on the bonny brown
And led the tabby gray;
And rode till she came to her father's hall,
Three hours before it was day.
11 Then up spoke her pretty parrot,
As she in her cage did lay,
Saying, "What is the matter, my pretty polly,
You are up so long before day?"
12 "Lie still, lie still, my pretty parrot,
No tales do you tell of me,
And your cage shall be lined with ivory and gold
And hang on the willow tree."
13 Then up spoke her mother dear,
As she in her bed did lay,
Saying, "What is the matter, my pretty parrot,
You talk so long before day?"
14 "The old cat came to my cage door
All ready me for to slay,
And I only called to my Pretty Polly,
To drive the cat away."
1. place