The Cruel Brother

There was three ladies playd at the ba,

With a hey ho and a lillie gay

There came a knight and played oer

them a'.

As the primrose spreads so sweetly

The eldest was baith tall and fair,

But the youngest was beyond compare.

The midmost had a graceful mien,

But the youngest lookd like beautie's

queen.

The Knight bowd low to a' the three,

But to the youngest he bent his knee.

The ladie turned her head aside,

The knight he woo'd her to be his bride.

The lady blushed a rosy red,

And sayd, 'Sir Knight, I'm too young

to wed.'

'O ladie fair, give me your hand,

And I'll make you ladie of a' my land.'

'Sir knight, ere ye my favor win,

You maun get consent frae a' my kin.'

He's got consent frae her parents dear,

And likewise frae her sisters fair.

He's got consent frae her kin each

one,

But forgot to spiek to her brother John.

Now, when the wedding day was come,

The knight would take his bonny bride

home.

And many a lord and many a knight

Came to behold that lady bright.

And there was nae man that did her

see,

But wishd himself bridegroom to be.

Her father dear led her thro the stair,

And her sisters twain they kissd her

there.

Her mother dear led her thro the closs,

And her brother John set her on her

horse.

She leand her oer the saddle-bow,

To give him a kiss ere she did go.

He has taen a knife, baith lang and

sharp,

And stabbd that bonny bride to the

heart.

She hadno ridden half thro the town,

Until her heart's blude stained her gown.

'Ride softly on,' says the best young

man,

'For I think our bonny bride looks pale

and wan.'

'O lead me gently up you hill,

And I'll there sit down, and make my

will.'

'O what will you leave to your father

dear?'

'The silver -shode steed that brought me

here.'

'What will you leave to your mother

dear?'

'My velvet pall and my silken gear.'

'What will you leave to your sister

Ann?'

'My silken scarf and my gowden fan.'

'What will you leave to your sister

Grace?'

'My bloody cloaths to wash and dress.'

'What will you leave to your brother

John?'

'The gallows-tree to hang him on.'

'What will you leave to your brother

John's wife?'

'The wilderness to end her life.'

This lady fair in her grave was laid,

And many a mass was oer her said.

But it would have made your heart

right sair,

To see the bridegroom rive his haire.