CHILD WATERS.
First published by Percy from his folio MS., Reliques, iii. 94. Several traditionary versions have since been printed, of which we give [Burd Ellen] from Jamieson's, and in the Appendix, [Lady Margaret] from Kinloch's collection. Jamieson also furnishes a fragment, and Buchan, (Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 30,) a complete copy of another version of Burd Ellen, and Chambers (Scottish Ballads, 193,) makes up an edition from all the copies, which we mention here because he has taken some lines from a manuscript supplied by Mr. Kinloch.
Childe Waters in his stable stoode
And stroakt his milke-white steede;
To him a fayre yonge ladye came
As ever ware womans weede.
Sayes, "Christ you save, good Childe Waters,"5
Sayes, "Christ you save and see;
My girdle of gold that was too longe,
Is now too short for mee.
"And all is with one childe of yours
I feele sturre at my side;10
My gowne of greene it is too straighte;
Before, it was too wide."
"If the child [be mine], faire Ellen," he sayd,
"Be mine, as you tell mee,
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,15
Take them your owne to bee.
"If the childe be mine, faire Ellen," he sayd,
"Be mine, as you doe sweare,
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,
And make that child your heyre."20
Shee sayes, "I had rather have one kisse,
Childe Waters, of thy mouth,
Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both,
That lye by north and southe.