Better Gutenberg
Free, beautifully formatted public-domain ebooks
‹Better GutenbergStory-Telling BalladsProud Lady Margaret · 26 of 141Contents›

Story-Telling Ballads

by Frances Jenkins Olcott

26 of 141 · Contents · Download EPUB

Proud Lady Margaret

Fair Margret was a young ladye,
  An come of high degree;
Fair Margret was a young ladye,
  An proud as proud could be.

Fair Margret was a rich ladye,
  The king’s cousin was she;
Fair Margaret was a rich ladye,
  An vain as vain could be.

She war’d her wealth on the gay cleedin
  That comes frae yont the sea,
She spent her time frae morning till night
  Adorning her fair bodye.

Ae night she sate in her stately ha,
  Kaimin her yellow hair,
When in there cum like a gentle knight,
  An a white scarf he did wear.

“O what’s your will wi me, sir knight,
  O what’s your will wi me?
You’re the likest to my ae brother
  That ever I did see.

“You’re the likest to my ae brother
  That ever I hae seen,
But he’s buried in Dunfermline kirk,
  A month an mair bygane.”

“I’m the likest to your ae brother
  That ever ye did see,
But I canna get rest into my grave,
  A’ for the pride of thee.

“Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,
  Leave pride an vanity;
Ere ye see the sights that I hae seen,
  Sair altered ye maun be.

“O ye come in at the kirk-door
  Wi the gowd plaits in your hair;
But wud ye see what I hae seen,
  Ye maun them a’ forbear.

“O ye come in at the kirk-door
  Wi the gowd prins i your sleeve;
But wad ye see what I hae seen,
  Ye maun gie them a’ their leave.

“Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret,
  Leave pride an vanity;
Ere ye see the sights that I hae seen,
  Sair altered ye maun be.”

He got her in her stately ha,
  Kaimin her yellow hair,
He left her on her sick sick bed,
  Sheding the saut saut tear.

← Back to Story-Telling Ballads

Scroll to Top