LEESOME BRAND.
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, i. 38. This is properly a tragic story, as may be perceived by comparing the present corrupted version (evidently made up from several different sources) with the Danish and Swedish ballads. See Herr Medelvold, Danske Viser, iii. 361, Die wahrsagenden Nachtigallen, in Grimm's Altdänische Heldenlieder, p. 88, Fair Midel and Kirsten Lyle, translated by Jamieson, Illustrations, p. 377; and Herr Redevall, Svenska Folkvisor, ii. 189, Krist' Lilla och Herr Tideman, Arwidsson, i. 352, Sir Wal and Lisa Lyle, translated by Jamieson, p. 373.
My boy was scarcely ten years auld,
Whan he went to an unco land,
Where wind never blew, nor cocks ever crew,
Ohon! for my son, Leesome Brand.
Awa' to that king's court he went,5
It was to serve for meat an' fee;
Gude red gowd it was his hire,
And lang in that king's court stay'd he.
He hadna been in that unco land,
But only twallmonths twa or three;10
Till by the glancing o' his ee,
He gain'd the love o' a gay ladye.
This ladye was scarce eleven years auld,
When on her love she was right bauld;
She was scarce up to my right knee,15
When oft in bed wi' men I'm tauld.
But when nine months were come and gane,
This ladye's face turn'd pale and wane;
To Leesome Brand she then did say,
"In this place I can nae mair stay.20
"Ye do you to my father's stable,
Where steeds do stand baith wight and able;
Strike ane o' them upo' the back,
The swiftest will gie his head a wap.