There Waur Three Ladies; Harris (Perth) c. 1798. Version C- Child 11 The Cruel Brother
[Harris Manuscript, p. 11 b, No 7; Harvard College Library. Harris MS: Ballads learned by Amelia Harris in her childhood from an old nurse in Perthshire (the last years of the 18th century); taken down by her daughter, who has added a few of her own collecting. With an appendix of airs. Harvard College Library.
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
C. 'There waur three ladies,' Harris Manuscript, p. 11 b, No 7.
1 There waur three ladies in a ha,
Hech hey an the lily gey
By cam a knicht, an he wooed them a'.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
2 The first ane she was cled in green;
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will you fancy me, an be my queen?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
3 'You may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither, wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
4 'You may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But no, no, no frae my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
5 The niest ane she was cled in yellow;
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will you fancy me, an be my marrow?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
6 'Ye may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither, wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
7 'Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But no, no, no frae my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
8 The niest ane she was cled in red:
Hech hey an the lily gey
'Will ye fancy me, an be my bride?'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
9 'Ye may seek me frae my father dear,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An frae my mither wha did me bear.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
10 'Ye may seek me frae my sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An dinna forget my brither John.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
11 He socht her frae her father, the king,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An he socht her frae her mither, the queen.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
12 He socht her frae her sister Anne,
Hech hey an the lily gey
But he forgot her brither John.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
13 Her mither she put on her goun,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An her sister Anne preened the ribbons doun.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
14 Her father led her doon the close,
Hech hey an the lily gey
An her brither John set her on her horse.
An the rose is aye the redder aye
* * * * *
15 Up an spak our foremost man:
Hech hey an the lily gey
'I think our bonnie bride's pale an wan.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
* * * * *
16 'What will ye leave to your father dear?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My . . . . . an my . . . . . chair.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
17 'What will ye leave to your mither dear?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My silken screen I was wont to wear.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
18 'What will ye leave to your sister Anne?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'My silken snood an my golden fan.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye
19 'What will you leave to your brither John?'
Hech hey an the lily gey
'The gallows tree to hang him on.'
An the rose is aye the redder aye