The Elfin Knight; Kinloch's A. S. Ballads; Child 2 C
[From Child's ESPB, Volume 1, 1882 as printed in "Ancient Scottish Ballads" by George Ritchie Kinloch, 1827. His notes follow. Jurgen Kloss has transcribed Kinnear's original MS text from Child's corrections, see the original at the bottom of this page.
R. Matteson 2011/2018]
Ancient Scottish Ballads: by George Ritchie Kinloch, notes:
The Editor is informed that this ballad is of English origin; but he has not been able to discover it in any of the English Collections. It is here given in a Scottish dress, from the recitation of a native of Mearns-shire.
THE ELFIN KNICHT.
Than the elfin knicht cam to her side.—p. 146, v. 3.
Elf is commonly used as synonymous with fairy, though it also signifies a spirit or fiend, possessing qualities of a more evil nature than the “Gude meebours.”—The “Elfin Knicht" comes under the latter description, and in truth, may be viewed as the same person as the devil, who, in the annals of tradition, is a well known tempter of the fair sex. He was once known to have paid his addresses to a fair maiden near the hill of Bennochie, in Aberdeenshire, in the form and dress of a handsome young man; and so far gained her affections as to get her consent to become his wife. It happened, however,
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on the day appointed for the nuptials, which were to be celebrated in a distant part of the country, where the devil said he resided, that she accidentally discovered his cloven feet, (of which distinguishing mark he has not the power to divest himself), and was horror-struck to find that her ardent lover was no other than the devil! Knowing that her promise was binding, and believing the tradition that she would be freed from her engagement if the day were allowed to elapse before he exacted her promise, she dissembled her terror, and entered into conversation with him on various topics, particularly about their approaching nuptials, in order to pass over the day. But the devil was not so easily deceived; and peremptorily insisted on her going with him. At last, every delay and excuse being exhausted, she, as a last resource, told him she would voluntarily fulfil her promise, provided he would make a causey or road from the foot to the top of Bennochie, before she finished baking a quantity of bread, at which she was then engaged. The devil consented, and immediately commenced his labour; while the maid went as quickly to work. But just as she was baking the last cake, the devil, who had concluded his task, appeared, and claimed her according to bargain. Being unwilling to comply, she resisted with all her might; but he carried her off by force: and in passing Bennochie, the struggle between them became so great, that the devil, enraged at her obduracy, and in order to punish her falsehood, transformed her, with her girdle and spartle (the baking implements, which she had taken with her in the hurry) into three grey stones, which, with the road he formed upon the hill, are pointed out to this day, to show the wonderful power of the devil, and the inevitable fate of those who have connection with the evil one;—thus verifying the proverb." They wha deal wi' the deil will ae get a dear pennyworth.”
The Elfin Knight: Child- Version C
Kinloch's A. S. Ballads, p. 145. From the recitation of M. Kinnear, a native of Mearnsshire, 23 Aug., 1826.
1 There stands a knicht at the tap o yon hill,
Oure the hills and far awa
He has blawn his horn loud and shill.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
2 'If I had the horn that I hear blawn,
Oure the hills and far awa
And the knicht that blaws that horn!'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
3 She had na sooner thae words said,
Oure the hills and far awa
Than the elfin knicht cam to her side.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
4 'Are na ye oure young a may
Oure the hills and far awa
Wi onie young man doun to lie?'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
5 'I have a sister younger than I,
Oure the hills and far awa
And she was married yesterday.'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
6 'Married wi me ye sall neer be nane
Oure the hills and far awa
Till ye mak to me a sark but a seam.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
7 'And ye maun shape it knife-,sheer-less,
Oure the hills and far awa
And ye maun sew it needle-, threed-less.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
8 'And ye maun wash it in yon cistran,
Oure the hills and far awa
Whare water never stood nor ran.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
9 'And ye maun dry it on yon hawthorn,
Oure the hills and far awa
Whare the sun neer shon sin man was born.'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
10 'Gin that courtesie I do for thee,
Oure the hills and far awa
Ye maun do this for me.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
11 'Ye'll get an acre o gude red-land
Oure the hills and far awa
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
12 'I want that land for to be corn,
Oure the hills and far awa
And ye maun aer it wi your horn.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
13 'And ye maun saw it without a seed,
Oure the hills and far awa
And ye maun harrow it wi a threed.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
14 'And ye maun shear it wi your knife,
Oure the hills and far awa
And na tyne a pickle o't for your life.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
15 'And ye maun moue it in yon mouse-hole
Oure the hills and far awa
And ye maun thrash it in your shoe-sole.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
16 'And ye maun fan it wi your luves,
Oure the hills and far awa
And ye maun sack it in your gloves.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
17 'And ye maun bring it oure the sea,
Oure the hills and far awa
Fair and clean and dry to me.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
18 'And whan that your wark is weill deen,
Oure the hills and far awa
Yese get your sark without a seam.'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa
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Elfin Knight - original MS
There stands a knicht at the tap o yon hill,
Oure the hills and far awa.
He has blawn his horn loud and shill,
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
If I had the horn that I hear blawn,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And the knicht that blaws that horn!
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
Are na ye oure young a may,
Oure the hills and far awa,
Wi onie young man doun to lie?
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
I have a sister younger than I,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And she was married yesterday.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
Married ye sall never get nane,
Oure the hills and far awa,
Till ye mak to me a shirt without a seam.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun sew it seamless,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And ye maun do it wi needle, threedless.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun wash it in yon cistran,
Oure the hills and far awa.
Where water never stood nor ran.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun dry it on yon hawthorn,
Oure the hills and far awa,
Whare the sun neer shon sin man was born.'
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
Ye'll get an acre o gude red-land,
Oure the hills and far awa.
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
I hae a bit o land to be corn,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And ye maun aer it wi your horn.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun saw it without a seed,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And ye maun harrow it wi a threed.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun moue it in yon mouse-hole.
Oure the hills and far awa.
And ye maun thrash it in your shoe-sole.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And ye maun fan it wi your loof,
Oure the hills and far awa.
And ye maun sack it in your glove.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.
And whan that your wark is weill deen,
Oure the hills and far awa.
Yese get your sark without a seam.
The cauld wind's blawn my plaid awa.