The Elfin Knight; Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 492. Child 2- Version E
[From ESPB, Volume 1, 1882, by Child. William Motherwell (October 13, 1797, Glasgow– November 1, 1835, Glasgow), was a Scottish poet and ballad collector. His first volume of local ballads was published in 1819 under the title of The Harp of Renfrewshire. In 1827 he published a further instalment in Minstrelsy Ancient and Modern, prefaced by an excellent historical introduction.
Child's version E from Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 492 is a fragment similar to versions A and B.
R. Matteson 2011]
The Elfin Knight; Child Version E Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 492.
1 The Elfin Knight sits on yon hill,
Ba ba lilly ba
Blowing his horn loud and shill.
And the wind has blawn my plaid awa
2 'I love to hear that horn blaw;
Ba ba lilly ba
I wish him [here] owns it and a'.'
And the wind has blawn my plaid awa
3 That word it was no sooner spoken,
Ba ba lilly ba
Than Elfin Knight in her arms was gotten.
And the wind has blawn my plaid awa
4 'You must mak to me a sark,
Ba ba lilly ba
Without threed, sheers or needle wark.'
And the wind has blawn my plaid awa