Fair Ellender- Kelly (MS) 1936 Hudson B
[From Folksong of Mississippi; Hudson, 1936, version B. His notes follow. The rhyme in stanza 3 is unique among the Lord Thomas lexicon.
R. Matteson 2014]
B. "Fair Ellender." Copy from Miss Lois Womble, Water Valley. Communicated to Miss Womble by Miss Molly Kelly, of Calhoun County, "an old lady who can neither read nor write." Note the third line of stanza 9, "I'll tie my life, I'll tie my death." The corresponding line in Child 73, D, stanza 10, is "Betide my life, betide my death."
1 "Come riddle to me, my dear mother,
Come riddle to me as one,
Whether I shall marry fair Ellender dear
Or bring the brown gal home."
2 "You know the brown gal she has money and land;
Fair Ellender she has none.
My own advice to you, my son,
Is bring the brown gal home."
3 He dressed his waiting maids in red,
He dressed himself in blue;
Every town that he went through
They taken him to be some groom.
4 He rode till he came to fair Ellender's gate,
He knocked till he made it ring.
No one was so ready as fair Ellender herself
To let Lord Thomas in.
5 "What news, fair Ellender?" he said.
"What news have you for me?
I've come to ask you to my wedding;
Tomorrow is the day."
6 "Bad news, bad news," fair Ellender she said;
"Bad news have you for me.
You might have had me, as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on."
7 "Come riddle to me, my dear mother,
Come riddle to me as one,
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding
Or stay with you at home."
8 "You know you have many a friend
And know you have many a foe.
My own advice to you, my daughter,
Lord Thomas's wedding don't go."
9 "I know I have many a friend;
I know I have many a foe;
I'll tie my life, I'll tie my death,
Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go."
10 She dressed her waiting maids in red
And dressed herself in green,
And every town that she went through
They taken her to be some queen.
11 She rode till she came to Lord Thomas's gate,
And knocked till she made it ring,
And no one was so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To let Fair Ellender in.
12 He taken her by her lily-white hand
And led her through the hall;
He led her to the high chair,
Among those ladies all.
13 "Is this your bride?" says fair Ellender.
I think she's wonderful brown,
When you could have had me, as fair a lady
As ever the sun shined on."
14 The brown gal had a little pen knife
And it was sharp and keen.
She pierced it through fair Ellender's heart,
And the blood came trinkling down.
15 "What ails you, fair Ellender?" Lord Thomas he said.
"I think you look wonderful pale.
You used to have as fine a color
As ever my two eyes seen."
16 Lord Thomas had a long, bright sword,
It was both sharp and keen;
He cut off his own bride's head
And dashed it against the wall.
17 Lord Thomas took his own bright sword
And pierced through his heart;
He wanted fair Ellender buried in his arms
And the brown gal at his feet.