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The priving was gude, it pleas'd them baith,
To lo'e her for ay, he gae her his aith.

Quo fhe, to leave thee, I will be laith,
My winfome gaberlunzie-man.

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Aftir the gaberlunzie-mon.

My dear, quo he, zee're zet owre zonge;

And hae na learnt the beggars tonge,
To follow me frae toun to toun,

And carrie the gaberlunzie on.

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Wi' kauk and keel, Ill win zour bread,

And spindles and whorles for them wha need,

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Whilk is a gentil trade indeed

To carrie the gaberlunzie---o.

Ill bow my leg and crook my knee,
And draw a black clout owre my ee,

A criple or blind they will cau mee:
While we fall fing and be merrie--o. '

8Q

Ver. 80. be merrie and fing. Common editions.

X. CHILD

X.

CHILD WATER S.

CHILD is frequently used by our old writers, as a Title, It is repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the Fairie Queen : and the fon of a king is in the fame poem called Child Triftram. [B. 5. c. 11. ft. 8. 13.---B. 6. c. 2. ft. 36.--Ibid. c. 8. ft. 15.] In an old ballad quoted in ShakeSpeare's K. Lear, the hero of Ariofto is called Child Roland. Mr. Theobald fuppofes this ufe of the word received along with their romances from the Spaniards, with whom Infante fignifies a Prince. Another critic tells us, that "in "the old times of chivalry, the noble youth, who were can"didates for knighthood, during the time of their probation "were called Infans, Varlets, Damoyfels, Bacheliers. "The moft noble of the youth were particularly called In"fans." A late commentator on Spenfer obferves, that the Saxon word cnihz knight, fignifies alfo a Child. [See Upton's glofs to the F. 2.]

The Editor's MS. collection, whence the following piece is taken, affords feveral other ballads, wherein the word Child occurs as a title: but in none of thefe it fignifies " Prince.” See the Jong intitled Gil Morrice, in this volume.

Hilde Waters in his ftable stoode ́

CH

And ftroakt his milke-white steede :

To him a fayre yonge ladye came

As ever ware womans weede.

Sayes,

Sayes, Chrift you fave, good Childe Waters;
Sayes, Chrift you fave, and fee:

My girdle of gold that was too longe,

Is now too fhort for mee.

And all is with one childe of yours,

I feele fturre at my fide:

My gowne of greene it is too ftraighte;
Before, it was too wide.

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If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he sayd,
Be mine as you tell mee;

Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,

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Take them your owne to bɛe.

If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he fayd,

Be mine, as you doe sweare;

Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,
And make that childe your heyre.

Shee fayes, I had rather have one kisse,

Childe Waters, of thy mouth;

Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both,

That lye by north and fouthe.

And I had rather have one twinklinge,

Childe Waters of thine ee:

Then I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both

To take them mine owne to bee.

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To

To morrowe, Ellen, I must forth ryde

Farr into the north countree; The fayreft ladye that I can finde, Ellen, muft goe with mee.

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Thoughe I am not that lady fayre, "Yet let me go with thee':

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And ever I pray you, Childe Waters,
Your foot-page let me bee.

If you will my foot-page bee, Ellèn,

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You must tell no man what is my name;

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My footpage then you shall bee.

Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode,

Ran barefoote by his syde;

Yet was he never foe courteous a knighte,
To fay, Ellen, will you ryde ?

Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode,
Ran barefoote thorow the broome;
Yet was hee never foe courteous a knighte,

To fay, put on your shoone.

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Ride foftlye, fhee fayd, O Childe Waters,

Why doe you ryde so fast?

The childe, which is no mans but thine,

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My bodye itt will braft.

Hee fayth, feest thou yond water, Ellen,
That flows from banke to brimme.—

I truft in God, O Childe Waters,
You never will fee me fwimme.

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But when shee came to the water fyde,
Shee fayled to the chinne :

Nowe the Lord of heaven be my speede,

For I must learne to swimme:

The falt waters bare up her clothes;
Our Ladye bare up her chinne:

Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord,

To fee faire Ellen fwimme.

And when fhee over the water was

Shee then came to his knee.

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Hee fayd, Come hither, thou fayre Ellèn,
Loe yonder what I fee.

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