Brother's Revenge
18th Century
Child Ballad 11
Three fine maids did play at ball,
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
Three fine maids did play at ball,
Came three lords and wooed them all,
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay.
The first young lord was dressed in yellow,
Il-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
The first young lord was dressed in yellow,
'Come, fair maid, and be my marrow.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay.
The second lord was dressed in red,
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
The second lord was dressed in red,
The last of the lords was dressed in green,
'Come, fair maid, and be my queen.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'You must ask my father dear,'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'You must ask my father dear,
Mother, too, who did me bear.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'I have asked them one and all,'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'I have asked them one and all,
Save Sister Anne and Brother John.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
Father dear did lead her down,
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
Father dear did lead her down,
Mother, sister kissed her crown.
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
John did place her on her steed
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
John did place her on her steed
Ere he did the cruel deed.
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Kiss me, Sister, ere you part.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Kiss me, Sister, ere you part.'
As he kissed, he stabbed her heart.
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Would that I were on yonder stile,'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Would that I were on yonder stile,
That I might rest and bleed a while.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Carry me to yon little green hill,'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'Carry me to yon little green hill,
That I might rest and make my will.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your father dear?'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your father dear?'
'The milk-white steed that carried me here.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your mother own?'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your mother own?'
'She may have my blood-stained gown.'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your brother John?'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
'What will you give your brother John?'
'A gallow's pin to hang him on!'
ll-e-o-lay and a lullay gay,
DayPoems Poem No. 2558
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/2558.html">Brother's Revenge by Anonymous</a>
The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor
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