  IThere were twa sisters sat in a bour; Binnorie, O Binnorie! There cam a knight to be their wooer, By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie. IIHe courted the eldest with glove and ring, But he lo’ed the youngest abune a’ thing. IIIThe eldest she was vexÈd sair, And sair envÌed her sister fair. IVUpon a morning fair and clear, She cried upon her sister dear: V‘O sister, sister, tak my hand, And we’ll see our father’s ships to land.’ VIShe’s ta’en her by the lily hand, And led her down to the river-strand. VIIThe youngest stood upon a stane, The eldest cam and push’d her in. VIII‘O sister, sister, reach your hand! And ye sall be heir o’ half my land: IX‘O sister, reach me but your glove! And sweet William sall be your love.’— XXI‘Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair Gar’d me gang maiden evermair.’ XIISometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, Until she cam to the miller’s dam. XIIIOut then cam the miller’s son, And saw the fair maid soummin’ XIV‘O father, father, draw your dam! There’s either a mermaid or a milk-white swan.’ XVThe miller hasted and drew his dam, And there he found a drown’d woman. XVIYou couldna see her middle sma’, Her gowden girdle was sae braw. XVIIYou couldna see her lily feet, Her gowden fringes were sae deep. XVIIIYou couldna see her yellow hair For the strings o’ pearls was twisted there. XIXYou couldna see her fingers sma’, Wi’ diamond rings they were cover’d a’. XXAnd by there cam a harper fine, That harpit to the king at dine. XXIAnd when he look’d that lady on, He sigh’d and made a heavy moan. XXIIHe’s made a harp of her breast-bane, Whose sound wad melt a heart of stane. XXIIIHe’s ta’en three locks o’ her yellow hair, And wi’ them strung his harp sae rare. XXIVHe went into her father’s hall, And there was the court assembled all. XXVHe laid his harp upon a stane, And straight it began to play by lane XXVI‘O yonder sits my father, the King, And yonder sits my mother, the Queen; XXVII‘And yonder stands my brother Hugh, And by him my William, sweet and true.’ XXVIIIBut the last tune that the harp play’d then— Binnorie, O Binnorie! Was, ‘Woe to my sister, false HelÈn!’ By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie. FOOTNOTES: |
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