23 Sweet William, having his two-edged sword,
He leaned it quite low to the ground,
And he has given his own true-love
A deep and a deadly wound.
24 'What aileth thee, Sweet William?' she says,
'What harm now have I done?
I never harmed a hair of your head
Since ever this love began.'
25 'Oh live, oh live, my own true-love,
Oh live but half an hour,
And the best doctor in London town
Shall come within thy bower.'
26 'How can I live? how shall I live?
How can I live half an hour?
For don't you see my very heart's blood
All sprinkled on the floor?'
27 William, having his two-edged sword,
He leaned it quite low to the ground,
And he has given his own bodie
A deep and a deadly wound.
D
Motherwell's MS., p. 639, from the recitation of an Irishwoman, wife of John French, a porter at the quay of Ayr.
1 Johnston Hey and Young Caldwell
Were drinking o the wine:
'O will ye marry my sister?
And I will marry thine.'
2 'I winna marry your sister,
Altho her locks are broun;
But I'll make her my concubine,
As I ride through the toun.'
3 Syne Johnston drew a gude braid sword,
That hang down by his knee,
And he has run the Young Caldwell
Out through the fair bodie.