Lord Arnold's Wife- W. Stanley (ME) 1926 Barry F b
[My title. From Barry Eckstorm, Smythe; British Ballads from Maine, 1929. Extensive notes which I assume are mainly from Barry may be found US and Canada versions page. Cf version Barry F a sung by her sister.
R. Matteson 2015]
LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD
(Child 81)
F. Two fragmentary texts from two daughters of the late Joseph Gilley, one of the early settlers upon the Cranberry Islands, off Mount Desert. Mrs. Phebe J. Stanley, eighty-six years old, was born upon these outer islands and has spent most of her life there. she says she learned the song when very young, living upon Outer Duck Island, off Mount Desert, one of the most inaccessible islands upon the coast. Mrs. Nancy Stanley, a younger sister of Mrs. Phebe, gave what she could recall and
said that she did not remember ever hearing anyone but her father sing the ballad.
F b. [Lord Arnold's Wife] Taken down, September 1926, from the recitation of Mrs. William Doane Stanley of Big Cranberry Island, younger sister of Mrs. Phebe J. Stanley. She could not recall the beginning of the ballad, but said that it was about Lord Arnold and Little Massy Groves and a little foot-page.
1 These ladies came down,
And then came down Lord Arnold's wife,
The fairest of them all.
2. She looked at Little Massy Grove
With such a winking eye,
And said: "You must come home with me,
This night with me to lie."
3. "I dare not, I dare not,
I dare not for my life,
For I see by the rings on your fingers
That you are Lord Arnold's wife."
"The lady saw Little Massy Grove and she fell in love with him. Lord Arnold had gone off somewhere on a visit," but Mrs. Stanley could not remember where. "The little foot-page heard and he started off to tell Lord Arnold. The lady took Little Massy Grove and went to bed. Lord Arnold was coming back and he told his men not to make any noise; but one of the fellows was a friend of Massy Grove and wished him well, so--"
4. He placed his bugle to his lips
And he blew it loud and shrill.
5. "Lie still, lie still, you Little Massy Grove,
And keep my back from the cold,
For it's nothing but my father's men,
Driving the sheep to the fold."
6. "Get up, get up, you Little Massy Grove,
And put some clothing on,
And never have it said by the morning sun
That I slew a naked man.
7. "And you can take this good broadsword
And I will take the other,
For what more could I do for you
If you were my own true brother?
8. "And you shall have the first stroke
And I will take the other,
And what more could I do for you
If you were my own true brother?"
9. The first stroke that Massy Grove gave
He wounded Lord Arnold sore,
And the next stroke Lord Arnold gave,
Massy Grove could strike no more.
10. He took his lady by the hand,
He led her through the hall,
And when he came to the outer room,
He slew her before them all.
11. Merrily sings the nightingale,
Merrily sings the sparrow,
Lord Arnold he killed his wife today
And he's to be hung tomorrow.