"She cooked me a speckled fish, Lady mother, ah me !" &c. "And how many pieces cut she thee, Henry my dearest son ?” "She cut three little pieces from it, Lady mother, ah me!"&c. 10 Henry, my dearest son ?" "Where left she then the third piece, 15 "She gave it to her dark-brown dog, Lady mother, ah me!" &c. "And what befell the dark-brown dog, Henry, my dearest son?" "His belly burst in the midst in two, Lady mother, ah me!" &c. "What wishest thou for thy father, Henry, my dearest son ?" 20 "I wish him a thousandfold boon and blessing, Lady mother, ah me!" &c. "What wishest thou for thy mother, Henry, my dearest son ?” "I wish for her eternal bliss, Lady mother, ah me!" &c. 26 "What wishest thou for thy true-love, 30 Henry, my dearest son?" "I wish her eternal hell and torment, Lady mother, ah me!" &c. III. THE CHILD'S LAST WILL. Den lillas Testamente: Svenska Folk-Visor, iii. 13. Translated in Literature and Romance of Northern Europe,i. 265. See also Arwidsson's Fornsånger, ii. 90. "SO LONG where hast thou tarried, Little daughter dear? “I have tarried with my old nurse, For ah, ah !—I am so ill—ah ! “What gave she thee for dinner, Sweet step-mother mine.” For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah ! "What didst thou do with the fish-bones, Little daughter dear ?” "Gave them to the beagle, Sweet step-mother mine.” For ah, ah !-1 am so ill-ah! "What wish leav'st thou thy father, Little daughter dear? "The blessedness of heaven, Sweet step-mother mine." For ah, ah!-I am so ill-ah! 20 “What wish leav'st thou thy mother, Little daughter dear?” "All the joys of heaven, Sweet step-mother mine." For ah, ah!—I am so ill—ah! "What wish leav'st thou thy brother, Little daughter dear? "A fleet ship on the waters, Sweet step-mother mine." For ah, ah !—I am so ill—ah! "What wish leav'st thou thy sister, Little daughter dear? "Golden chests and caskets, Sweet step-mother mine." For ah, ah !—I am so ill—ah ! “What wish leav'st thou thy step-mother, Little daughter dear ?” "Of hell the bitter sorrow Sweet step-mother mine." For ah, ah !—1 am so ill—ah ! "What wish leav'st thou thy old nurse, Little daughter dear?" "For her I wish the same pangs, Sweet step-mother mine. For ah, ah!-1 am so ill—ah ! 45 "But now the time is over When I with you can stay; The little bells of heaven Are ringing me away." For ah, ah !—I am so ill—ah! 50 THE THREE KNIGHTS. See p. 251. From the second edition of Gilbert's Ancient Christmas Carols, &c. p. 68. THERE did three Knights come from the West, And these three Knights courted one Lady, The first Knight came was all in white, The next Knight came was all in green, The third Knight came was all in red, 5 10 15 "Then have you asked of my Father dear, With the high and the lily oh ! Likewise of her who did me bear? As the rose was so sweetly blown. "And have you asked of my brother John? With the high and the lily oh! And also of my sister Anne? As the rose was so sweetly blown. "Yes, I have asked of your Father dear, With the high and the lily oh ! Likewise of her who did you bear, As the rose was so sweetly blown. "And I have asked of your sister Anne, But I've not asked of your brother John," [Here some verses seem to be wanting.] For on the road as they rode along, With the high and the lily oh! There did they meet with her brother John, As the rose was so sweetly blown. She stooped low to kiss him sweet, He to her heart did a dagger meet, As the rose was so sweetly blown. "Ride on, ride on," cried the serving man, With the high and the lily oh ! 20 25 30 35 40 |