A Bundle of Ballads - Part 9
Library

Part 9

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"Let love no more boast him in palace or bower; O willow, willow, willow!

For women are trothless, and fleet in an hour.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"But what helps complaining? In vain I complain: O willow, willow, willow!

I must patiently suffer her scorn and disdain.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"Come, all you forsaken, and sit down by me, O willow, willow, willow!

He that plains of his false love, mine's falser than she.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"The willow wreath wear I, since my love did fleet; O willow, willow, willow!

A garland for lovers forsaken most meet.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."

PART THE SECOND.

"Low laid by my sorrow, begot by disdain; O willow, willow, willow!

Against her too cruel, still still I complain, O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and!

"O love too injurious, to wound my poor heart!

O willow, willow, willow!

To suffer the triumph, and joy in my smart: O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"O willow, willow, willow! the willow garl-and, O willow, willow, willow!

A sign of her falseness before me doth stand: O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"As here it doth bid to despair and to die, O willow, willow, willow!

So hang it, friends, o'er me in grave where I lie: O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"In grave where I rest me, hang this to the view, O willow, willow, willow!

Of all that do know her, to blaze her untrue.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"With these words engraven, as epitaph meet, O willow, willow, willow!

'Here lies one drank poison for potion most sweet,'

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"Though she thus unkindly hath scorn-ed my love, O willow, willow, willow!

And carelessly smiles at the sorrows I prove; O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"I cannot against her unkindly exclaim, O willow, willow, willow!

'Cause once well I loved her, and honoured her name: O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"The name of her sounded so sweet in mine ear, O willow, willow, willow!

It raised my heart lightly, the name of my dear; O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"As then 'twas my comfort, it now is my grief; O willow, willow, willow!

It now brings me anguish; then brought me relief.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.

"Farewell, fair false-hearted: plaints end with my breath!

O willow, willow, willow!

Thou dost loathe me, I love thee, though cause of my death.

O willow, willow, willow!

O willow, willow, willow!

Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."

THE LITTLE WEE MAN.

As I gaed out to tak the air Between Midmar and bonny Craigha', There I met a little wee man, The less o' him I never saw.