She took him by the milk-white han',
An' led him through many a hall,
Until they came to one stone chamber,15
Where no man might hear his call.
She sat him in a goolden chair,
And jagg'd him with a pin;
And called for a goolden cup
To houl' his heart's blood in.20
She tuk him by the yellow hair,
An' also by the feet;
An' she threw him in the deep draw well,
It was fifty fadom deep.
Day bein' over, the night came on,25
And the scholars all went home;
Then every mother had her son,
But little Sir Hugh's had none.
She put her mantle about her head,
Tuk a little rod in her han',30
An' she says, "Sir Hugh, if I fin' you here,
I will bate you for stayin' so long."
First she went to the Jew's door,
But they were fast asleep;
An' then she went to the deep draw-well,35
That was fifty fadom deep.
She says, "Sir Hugh, if you be here,
As I suppose you be,
If ever the dead or quick arose,
Arise and spake to me."40
Yes, mother dear, I am here,
I know I have staid very long;
But a little penknife was stuck in my heart,
Till the stream ran down full strong.
And mother dear, when you go home,45
Tell my playfellows all,
That I lost my life by leaving them
When playing that game of ball.