Page:The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, Volume 03.djvu/267

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81. Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
255
3 'What would you think, Little Mossgrey,
To lye wi me this nicht?
Good beds I hac in Barnabey,
If they were ordered richt.'
4 Hold thy tongue, fair lady,' he says,
For that would cause much strife ;
For I see by the rings on your fingers
That you 're Lord Barnabas' wife.'
5 Lord Barnabas' lady indeed I am,
And that I'll let you ken,
But he's awa to the king's court,
And I hope he'll neer come hame.'
6 Wi wrapped arms in bed they lay
Till they fell both asleep,
When up and starts Barnabas' boy,
And stood at their bed-feet.
7 'How likes thou the bed, Mossgrey?
Or how likes thou the sheets?
Or how likes thou my master's lady,
Lyes in thy arms and sleeps ?'
6
8 Weel I love the bed,' he said,
And far better the sheets;
But foul may fa your master's lady,
Lies in my arms and sleeps!'
9 She pulled out a rusty sword,
Was sticking by the stroe;
Says, Tell no tidings of me, my boy,
Or thou'll neer tell no moe.
10 He's awa to the king's court,
As fast as he can dree;
He's awa to the king's court,
For to tell Barnaby.
11 'Are there any of my biggins brunt?
Or
any of my young men slain ?
Or is my lady brocht to bed,
Of a dochter or a son?'
12 There is none of your biggings brunt,
There's none of your young men slain ;
But Little Mossgrey and your lady
They are both in a bed within.'
13 If that be true, my bonnie boy,
Thou tellest unto me,
I have not a dochter but only one,
And married ye shall be.
14 But if it be a lie, my bonnie boy,
You're telling unto me,
On the highest tree of Bailsberry,
Thereon I'll gar hang thee.'