  IChilde Waters in his stable stood Stroking his milk-white steed: To him came a fair young lady As ever wore woman’s weed. IISays, ‘Christ you save, Childe Waters!’ Says, ‘Christ you save and see! My girdle of gold, which was too long, Is now too short for me. III‘And all is with one child of yours I feel stir at my side: My gown of green, it is too strait; Before it was too wide.’— IV‘If the child be mine, Burd Ellen,’ he said, ‘Be mine as you do swear, Take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, And make that child your heir.’ VShe says, ‘I would rather have one kiss, Childe Waters, of thy mouth Than I would have Cheshire and Lancashire both, That lies by north and south.’— VI‘To-morrow, Ellen, I must ride Far into the north countrye.’— ‘Then I will run low by your side: Your foot-page let me be!’— VII‘If you will be my foot-page, Ellen, As you do tell it me, Then you must cut your gown of green An inch above your knee.’ VIIIChilde Waters leapt on his milk-white steed, And fast away did ride: Burd Ellen has kilted her gay clothing, And ran low by his side. IXAll this long day Childe Waters rode, She barefoot by his side; Yet was he never so courteous a knight As to say, ‘Burd Ellen, ride.’ XHe has ridden, and she has run, And barefoot through the broom; Yet was he never so courteous a knight As to say, ‘Put on your shoon.’ XI‘Ride softly,’ she said, ‘Childe Waters! O why do you ride so fast? The child which is no man’s but yours My body it will brast.’ XIIHe has ridden on high horseback, And she’s run low beside, Until they came to a wan water— I think men call it Clyde. XIIISays, ‘See’st yon water, Ellen, That flows from bank to brim?’— ‘I trust to God, Childe Waters You will never see me swim.’ XIVThe firsten step Burd Ellen stept, The water came to her knee; ‘Ochon, alas!’ said Burd Ellen, ‘This water’s o’er deep for me!’ XVThe neisten step Burd Ellen stept, The water came to her middle; And sighing said Burd Ellen, ‘I’ve wetted my golden girdle!’ XVIThe thirden step Burd Ellen slept, The water came to her pap; And the bairn that was in her two sides For cold began to quake. XVII‘Lie still, lie still, my own dear babe! Ye work your mother woe; Your father that rides on high horseback Cares little for us two.’ XVIIIAbout the midst of Clyde-water There was a yeard-fast He lightly turn’d his horse about And took Burd Ellen on. XIXWhen she over the water won, She then came to his knee: Says, ‘How far is it to your lodgin’ Where we this night may be?’— XX‘Seest thou not yon castle, Ellen? Of red gold shines the gate: There is twenty-and-four fair ladies And one my worldly mate. XXI‘Seest thou not yon castle, Ellen? Of red gold shines the tower: There is twenty-and-four fair ladies, And one my paramour. XXII‘Seest thou not yon castle, Ellen, That shines so fair to see? There’s a lady in it, Ellen, Will sunder you and me.’— XXIII‘I do see the castle, Childe Waters: Of red gold shines the gate. God give you good then of yourself, And of your worldly mate! XXIV‘I wish no ill to your lady; She ne’er wish’d none to me; But I wish the maid most of your love Dries XXV‘I wish no ill to your lady; She ne’er comes in my thought; But I wish the maid most of your love That dearest has you bought.’— XXVI‘But my hounds shall eat of the bread of wheat, And you of the bread of bran; And you shall curse the heavy hour That ever your love began. XXVII‘But my horse shall drink of th |
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