THE TWA SISTERS
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
Edinburgh, Edinburgh,
There was twa sisters in a bow'r,
Stirling for aye,
There was twa sisters in a bowr,
There came a knight to be their wooer,
Bonny Saint Johnston stands upon Tay.
He courted the eldest wi' glove an' ring,
But he loved the youngest above a' thing.
He courted the eldest wi' brooch an' knife,
But loved the youngest as his life;
The eldest she was vexed sair,
An' much envied her sister fair;
Into her bower she could not rest,
Wi' grief an' spite she almost brast.
Upon a morning fair an' clear
She cried upon her sister dear:
O sister come to yon sea-stran',
And see our father's ships come to lan'.
She's ta'en her by the milk-white han',
And led her down to yon sea-stran'.
The youngest stood upon a stane,
The eldest came an' threw her in;
She took her by the middle sma',
An' dash'd her bonny back to the jaw;
O sister, sister, take my han',
An I'se make you heir to a' my lan'.
O sister, sister, take my middle,
And ye's get my gold and my golden girdle.
jaw, wave.
O sister, sister, save my life,
And I swear I'se never be nae man's wife.
"Foul fa the han' that I should take,
It twin'd me an' my wardle's make."
"Your cherry cheeks and yallow hair,
Gars me gae maiden for evermair."
[Original Size]
Sometimes she sank, an' sometimes she swam,
Till she cam down yon bonny mill dam;
O out it came the miller's son,
An' saw the fair maid swimmin' in.
"O father, father, draw your dam!
Here's either a mermaid, or a swan."
The miller quickly drew the dam,
An' there he found a drown'd woman;
twin'd, deprived). wardles make, life-mate.
You couldna see her yallow hair,
For gold and pearl that were sae rare;
You couldna see her middle sma,
For golden girdle that was sae braw;
Ye couldna see her fingers white
For golden rings that was sae gryte.
And by there came a harper fine,
That harped to the king at dine.
When he did look that lady upon,
He sigh'd and made a heavy moan;
He's taen three locks o' her yallow hair,
And wi' them strung his harp sae fair.
The first tune he did play and sing
Was—"Farewell to my father the king."
The nexten tune that he played syne
Was—"Farewell to my mother the queen."
The lasten tune that he play'd then
Was—"Wae to my sister, fair Ellen!"
gryte, great.
