Little Mathie Groves- Smith (WV) 1975 Gainer
[From Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills, by Patrick Gainer; 1975. His notes follow. As usual, Gainer's contribution must be considered suspect. It's clear from the opening stanza that this is a ballad recreation- since if so different and contrived --AND it's 31 stanzas long (the Buchan of American collectors!). Probably good to have an informant with the last name Smith!
This line sums it all up: But I wouldn't give Mathie Groves' fingernail--
For Lord Donel and all his kin."
Gainer did not submit this to Sing Hypsy Doodle just four years earlier- so apparently it did not exist then. For whatever reason the ballad is not popular in West Virginia- with Cox finding just a fragment and Musick contributing two versions.
R. Matteson 2015]
LITTLE MATHIE GROVES
(CHILD 81, "LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD")
In West Virginia this ballad is sometimes known as "Lord, Donel's Wife," or "Lord Arnold's Wife." The moral lesson is clear: the act of an unfaithful wife results in tragedy. The indeli.cate details of the story are justified because of the lesson which is taught. This version was sung by Verna Smith, of Braxton County.
1. Little Mathie Groves he went to church,
To see and to be seen,
He placed himself beside the door,
For to see the ladies walk in.
2 Well the first came in was a raven black,
The next came in was a brown,
The next came in was Lord Donel's wife,
The gayest of the town.
3 She turned herself around and about,
She turned herself to me,
She placed her eyes on Little Mathie Groves,
And these very words said she.
4 She placed her eyes on Mathie Groves,
And these very words said she:
"I will take you home with me tonight,
This very night," said she.
5 "O I dare not, O I dare not,
I dare not for my life,
For I know by the rings on your right hand
You are Lord Donel's wife."
6 "It makes no difference whose wife I am,
To you or to no other man,
For my husband he is not at home,
He is in some distant land."
7 The little foot-page was a-standing by,
And he heard every word was said;
He swore Lord Donel should hear of this,
Before it was break of day.
8 Oh he had sixteen miles to go,
And ten of them he run,
He run till he came to the broke-down bridge,
Then he held his breath and swum.
9 He swum till he came to the other side,
Then he took to his heels and run,
He run till he came to the king's castle,
And he tapped at the bell and it rung.
10 "What news' what news' my little foot-page,
What news have You brought to me?
Are there any of my castles a-blowing down,
Or any of my men false be?"
11 "There's none of your castles a-blowing down,
Nor none of Your men false be,
But little Mathie Groves is at your home
In bed with Your lady."
12 "If this be a lie you have brought to me,
And a lie I believe it to be,
I'll build me a gallows so strong and high,
And hanged on it You shall be."
13 "If this be a lie I have brought to you,
And a lie You find it to be,
You need not build no gallows, sir,
You can hang me to a tree."
14 "If this be the truth you have brought to me,
But a lie I think it to be,
I've just one daughter in this wide world,
And Your bride she soon shall be.
15 "Go saddle me the milk-white horse,
Go saddle me the brown,
Go saddle me the swiftest horse
That ever stood on ground."
16 He called his men all in a row,
And he picked out his three;
He marched them away to a Scottish home,
This happy couple for to see.
17 But there was one among the three
That owed little Mathie good will;
He put his bugle to his face
And blew it loud and shrill.
18 "Hush, hush," little Mathie says to her,
"Hush, I must go,
For Lord Donel is coming home,
I heard his bugle blow."
19 "Lie still, lie still," the lady says,
"And keep me from the cold,
For it's only my father's shepherd boy
A-leading his sheep to the fold."
20 She turned him over and give him a kiss,
And soon they fell asleep;
But when they awoke again
Lord Donel was at their feet.
21 "O how do you like my curtains, sir,
And how do you like my sheets,
And how do you like my lady fair
Who lies in your arms asleep?"
22 "Very well I like your curtains, sir,
Very well I like your sheets,
But the best of all is your lady fair,
Who lies in my arms asleep."
23 "Get up from there, put on your clothes,
And fight me like a man,
For when I'm dead no one can say
I've slain a naked man."
24 "How can I get up, put on my clothes,
And fight you like a man,
When you have got two well-grown swords,
And me not a pocket knife?"
25 "I know I have got two well-grown swords,
And they cost me deep in the purse,
But I'll give to You the best of them,
Myself shall take the worst.
26 "You can strike the very first lick,
And strike it like a man,
And I will strike the very next lick,
I'll kill you if I can."
27 Little Mathie Groves struck the very first lick,
He struck a fearful blow,
But when Lord Donel struck his lick,
Little Mathie couldn't do no more.
28 He took his fair lady by the hand,
He set her upon his knee.
He said, "Which of all do you love best,
Little Mathie Groves or me?"
29 "Very well I like your red rosy cheeks,
Very well I like Your chin,
But I wouldn't give Mathie Groves' fingernail
For Lord Donel and all his kin."
30 He took her by the hair of the head,
He drug her over the floor,
And with his sword cut off her head,
As he had done little Mathie before.
31 He put the sword against the wall,
The point against his heart,
He gave a loud scream and a squall,
Lord Donel and his wife must part.