Lord Banner- Robbins (ME) 1926 Barry C
[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.
R. Matteson 2015]
LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD
(Child 81)
C. "Lord Banner." Taken down, October, 1926, from the recitation of Mrs. Rose Robbins of Northeast Harbor. The beginning she could not recall; but a page overheard Lord Banner talking with Young Musgrove and "He ran till he came to the riverside, he took to his heels and swum." Lord Banner questioned the page.
1. "If this be a lie that you tell me,
Or I suppose it to be,
I will rig up a gallers
And hang-ed you shall be."
2. "If this be a lie that I told you,
Or you suppose it to be,
You need not rig up a gallers,
But hang me to a tree."
3. "Lay still, lay still, cried she,
"And shield me from the cold ;
It's nothing but a bugle boy,
Driving his sheep to fold."
4. They huddled and they cuddled
And soon lay fast asleep;
When they woke in the morning,
Lord Banner stood at their feet.
5. "Arise, arise, put on your clothes
As fast as ever you can;
It shan't be said in Scotland
I fought with a naked man."
6. "To arise, put on my clothes,
I dare not for my life,
For by your side you've two broadswords
While I ['ve] a single knife."
7. "If by my side I've two broadswords
They cost me dear in purse,
And you can choose the very best
While I will choose the worst.
8. "And you can strike the very first blow
[And strike it like a man,]
And I will strike the second
And kill you if I can."
9. Mugrove he struck the very first blow
And wounded Lord Banner sore,
Lord Banner he struck the second
And left him in his gore.
10. He took his wife by the curling locks
And gave her kisses three,
"Which do you love the best,
This young Mugrove or me?"
11. "Quite well I like your ruby lips,
Quite well I like your chin,
But the best of all is young Mugrove,
Or you or any your kin."
12. He split her head in twain,
She lay bleeding on the floor;
She never rose again;
He put the point of his sword in his heart.