The Oxford Book of Ballads :: 87. Jamie Douglas

87. Jamie Douglas

I

I was a lady of high renown
As ever lived in the north countrie;
I was a lady of high renown
When the Earl Douglas luvÈd me.

II

And when we came through Glasgow toun,
We were a comely sight to see;
My gude lord in the black velvÈt,
And I mysel’ in cramasie[536].

III

But when we came to Douglas toun,
We were a fine sight to behold:
My gude lord in the cramasie
And I mysel’ in the shining gold.

IV

And when that my auld[537] son was born
And set upon his nurse’s knee,
I was happy a woman as e’er was born,
And my gude lord he luvÈd me.

V

But O an my young son was born
And set upon his nurse’s knee
And I mysel’ were dead and gane,
For a maid again I’ll never be!

VI

There cam’ a man into this house,
And Jamie Lockhart was his name,
And it was told to my gude lord
That I was owre in love wi’ him.

VII

O wae be unto thee, BlackwÒod,
And ae an ill death may ye dee!
For ye was the first and foremost man
That parted my gude lord and me.

VIII

I sent a word to my gude lord,
‘Come down, and sit, and dine wi’ me,
And I’ll set thee on a chair of gowd,
And a siller towel on thy knee.’—

IX

‘When cockle-shells turn silver bells,
And mussell grow on every tree,
When frost and snow turns fire to burn,
Then I’ll sit down and dine wi’ thee.’

X

When that my father he had word
That my gude lord had forsaken me,
He sent a fifty brisk dragoons
To fetch me home to my ain countrie.

XI

‘Fare thee well, my Jamie Douglas!
Fare thee well, ever dear to me!
But O, an my young babe were born
And set upon some nourice’ knee!

XII

‘And fare thee well, my pretty palace!
And fare ye well, my children three!
God grant your father grace to be kind,
More kind to you than he was to me!’

XIII

Then slowly, slowly rase I up,
But quickly, quickly he cam’ doun,
And when he saw me sit in my coach,
He made his drums and trumpets sound.

XIV

When we cam’ in by Edinbro’ town,
My father and mother they met me
Wi’ trumpets soundin’ on every side;
But it was nae music at a’ to me.

XV

‘Now hau’d your comfort my father dear,
And mother your weeping let abee!
I’ll never lye in another man’s arms
Since my dear lord has forsaken me.’

XVI

It’s very true, and it’s aft-times said,
The hawk will flie far far frae her nest:
And a’ the warld may plainly see
They are far frae me that I luve best.

Lament of Barbara, Marchioness of Douglas

XVII

O waly, waly, up the bank,
And waly, waly, doun the brae,
And waly, waly, yon burn-side,
Where I and my Love wont to gae!

XVIII

I lean’d my back unto an aik,
I thocht it was a trustie tree;
But first it bow’d and syne it brak—
Sae my true love did lichtlie[538] me.

XIX

O waly, waly, gin love be bonnie
A little time while it is new!
But when ’tis auld it waxeth cauld,
And fades awa’ like morning dew.

XX

O wherefore should I busk my heid,
Or wherefore should I kame my hair?
For my true Love has me forsook,
And says he’ll never lo’e me mair.

XXI

Now Arthur’s Seat sall be my bed,
The sheets sall ne’er be ’filed by me;
Saint Anton’s well sall be my drink;
Since my true Love has forsaken me.

XXII

Marti’mas wind, when wilt thou blaw,
And shake the green leaves aff the tree?
O gentle Death, when wilt thou come?
For of my life I am wearÌe.

XXIII

’Tis not the frost, that freezes fell,
Nor blawing snaw’s inclemencie,
’Tis not sic cauld that makes me cry;
But my Love’s heart grown cauld to me.

XXIV

When we cam’ in by Glasgow toun,
We were a comely sicht to see;
My Love was clad in the black velvÈt,
And I mysel’ in cramasie.

XXV

But had I wist, before I kist,
That love had been sae ill to win,
I had lock’d my heart in a case o’ gowd,
And pinn’d it wi’ a siller pin.

[536] cramasie = crimson.

[537] auld = eldest.

[538] lichtlie = slight, treat with disrespect.

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