41. Hind Etin
367
Mythology, p. 103. 'Agnes and the Merman,' Danish A, C, by Prior, III, 332, 335; some copy of A by Borrow, p. 120; Øhlenschlæger's ballad by Buchanan, p. 76.
Scottish B is translated, after Allingham, by Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen, No 30; A 1–8, C 6–14, by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder, No 2; a compounded version by Roberts into German by Podhorszki, Acta Comparationis, etc., VIII, 69–73.
A
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 6; Motherwell's MS., p. 554.
1 Lady Margaret sits in her bower door,
Sewing at her silken seam;
She heard a note in Elmond's wood,
And wishd she there had been.
Sewing at her silken seam;
She heard a note in Elmond's wood,
And wishd she there had been.
2 She loot the seam fa frae her side,
And the needle to her tae,
And she is on to Elmond's wood
As fast as she coud gae.
And the needle to her tae,
And she is on to Elmond's wood
As fast as she coud gae.
3 She hadna pu'd a nut, a nut,
Nor broken a branch but ane,
Till by it came a young hind chiel,
Says, Lady, lat alane.
Nor broken a branch but ane,
Till by it came a young hind chiel,
Says, Lady, lat alane.
4 O why pu ye the nut, the nut,
Or why brake ye the tree?
For I am forester o this wood:
Ye shoud spier leave at me.
Or why brake ye the tree?
For I am forester o this wood:
Ye shoud spier leave at me.
5 'I'll ask leave at no living man,
Nor yet will I at thee;
My father is king oer a' this realm,
This wood belongs to me.'
Nor yet will I at thee;
My father is king oer a' this realm,
This wood belongs to me.'
6 She hadna pu'd a nut, a nut,
Nor broken a branch but three,
Till by it came him Young Akin,
And gard her lat them be.
Nor broken a branch but three,
Till by it came him Young Akin,
And gard her lat them be.
7 The highest tree in Elmond's wood,
He's pu'd it by the reet,
And he has built for her a bower,
Near by a hallow seat.
He's pu'd it by the reet,
And he has built for her a bower,
Near by a hallow seat.
8 He's built a bower, made it secure
Wi carbuncle and stane;
Tho travellers were never sae nigh,
Appearance it had nane.
Wi carbuncle and stane;
Tho travellers were never sae nigh,
Appearance it had nane.
9 He's kept her there in Elmond's wood,
For six lang years and one,
Till six pretty sons to him she bear,
And the seventh she's brought home.
For six lang years and one,
Till six pretty sons to him she bear,
And the seventh she's brought home.
10 It fell ance upon a day,
This guid lord went from home,
And he is to the hunting gane,
Took wi him his eldest son.
This guid lord went from home,
And he is to the hunting gane,
Took wi him his eldest son.
11 And when they were on a guid way,
Wi slowly pace did walk,
The boy's heart being something wae,
He thus began to talk:
Wi slowly pace did walk,
The boy's heart being something wae,
He thus began to talk:
12 'A question I woud ask, father,
Gin ye woudna angry be:
'Say on, say on, my bonny boy,
Ye 'se nae be quarrelld by me.'
Gin ye woudna angry be:
'Say on, say on, my bonny boy,
Ye 'se nae be quarrelld by me.'
13 I see my mither's cheeks aye weet,
I never can see them dry;
And I wonder what aileth my mither,
To mourn continually.'
I never can see them dry;
And I wonder what aileth my mither,
To mourn continually.'
14 Your mither was a king's daughter,
Sprung frae a high degree,
And she might hae wed some worthy prince,
Had she nae been stown by me.
Sprung frae a high degree,
And she might hae wed some worthy prince,
Had she nae been stown by me.
15 I was her father's cup-bearer,
Just at that fatal time;
I catchd her on a misty night,
Whan summer was in prime.
Just at that fatal time;
I catchd her on a misty night,
Whan summer was in prime.
16 My luve to her was most sincere,
Her luve was great for me,
But when she hardships doth endure,
Her folly she does see.'
Her luve was great for me,
But when she hardships doth endure,
Her folly she does see.'
17 'I'll shoot the buntin o the bush,
The linnet o the tree,
And bring them to my dear mithier,
See if she'll merrier be.'
The linnet o the tree,
And bring them to my dear mithier,
See if she'll merrier be.'
