The Fairy Knight- Buchan 1828; The Elfin Knight; Child 2- Version D
[No informant named. From: Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 296, 1828. Child 2 D. 'The Fairy Knight,' Buchan, II, 296. Version D. Notes from Buchan follow,
R. Matteson 2011/2018]
This is the only complete copy of this romantic ballad that I have been able to discover, although I have seen more than one in MS. The impossibilities contained in the ballad, and required of the Elfin Knight, suit one of those classes of beings who can do whatsoever they listeth by night, or eke by day.
THE FAIRY KNIGHT from Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 296, 1828.
1 The Elfin knight stands on yon hill,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Blawing his horn loud and shrill.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
2 'If I had yon horn in my kist,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And the bonny laddie here that I luve best!
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
3 'I hae a sister eleven years auld,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And she to the young men's bed has made bauld.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
4 'And I mysell am only nine,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And oh! sae fain, luve, as I woud be thine.'
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
5 'Ye maun make me a fine Holland sark,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Without ony stitching or needle wark.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
6 'And ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Where the dew never wat, nor the rain ever fell.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
7 'And ye maun dry it upon a thorn
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
That never budded sin Adam was born.'
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
8 'Now sin ye've askd some things o me,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
It's right I ask as mony o thee.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
9 'My father he askd me an acre o land,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Between the saut sea and the strand.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
10 'And ye maun plow't wi your blawing horn,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And ye maun saw't wi pepper corn.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
11 And ye maun harrow't wi a single tyne,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And ye maun shear't wi a sheep's shank bane.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
12 'And ye maun big it in the sea,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And bring the stathle dry to me.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
13 'And ye maun barn 't in yon mouse hole,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And ye maun thrash't in your shee sole.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
14 'And ye maun sack it in your gluve,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And ye maun winno't in your leuve.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
15 'And ye maun dry't without candle or coal,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
And grind it without quirn or mill.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
16 'Ye'll big a cart o stane and lime,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Gar Robin Redbreast trail it syne.
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa
17 'When ye've dune, and finishd your wark,
Blaw, blaw, blaw winds, blaw
Ye'll come to me, luve, and get your sark.'
And the wind has blawin my plaid awa