English Poetry I: From Chaucer to Gray.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
Traditional Ballads
5. Edward
“W
Edward, Edward,
Why dois your brand sae drap wi bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee O?”
“O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee O.”
Edward, Edward,
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee O.”
“O I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither,
That erst was sae fair and frie O.”
Edward, Edward,
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie O.”
“O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither,
O I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas, and wae is mee O!”
Edward, Edward,
And whatten penance will ye drie for that?
My deir son, now tell me O.”
“Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither,
Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
And Ile fare ovir the sea O.”
Edward, Edward?
And what wul you doe wi your towirs and your ha,
That were sae fair to see O?”
“Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa,
Mither, mither,
Ile let thame stand till they down fa,
For here nevir mair maun I bee O.”
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Whan ye gang ovir the sea O?”
“The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
Mither, mither,
The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
For thame nevir mair wul I see O.”
Edward, Edward?
My deir son, now tell me O.”
“The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither,
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counseils ye gave to me O.”