And aye when she turn’d her round about, Aye taller he seemed to be; Until that the tops o’ the gallant ship Nae taller were than he.
The clouds grew dark, and the wind grew loud, And the leven filled her e’e; And waesome wail’d the snow-white sprites Upon the gurlie sea.
He strack the tapmast wi’ his hand, The foremast wi’ his knee; And he brake that gallant ship in twain, And sank her in the sea.
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.
[ THE LAWLANDS OF HOLLAND]
The Love that I have chosen I’ll therewith be content; The salt sea shall be frozen Before that I repent. Repent it shall I never Until the day I dee! But the Lawlands of Holland Have twinn’d my Love and me.
My Love he built a bonny ship, And set her to the main; With twenty-four brave mariners To sail her out and hame. But the weary wind began to rise, The sea began to rout, And my Love and his bonny ship Turn’d withershins about.
There shall no mantle cross my back, No comb go in my hair, Neither shall coal nor candle-light Shine in my bower mair; Nor shall I choose another Love Until the day I dee, Since the Lawlands of Holland Have twinn’d my Love and me.
‘Now haud your tongue, my daughter dear, Be still, and bide content! There’s other lads in Galloway; Ye needna sair lament.’ —O there is none in Galloway, There’s none at all for me:— I never loved a lad but one, And he’s drown’d in the sea.