"If she's been sick, and nigh to dead, What makes her wear the ribbon so red ?

"If she's been sick, and like to die,
What makes her wear the gold sae high?"

When came the carl to the lady's yett,
He rudely, rudely rapped thereat.

"Now where is the lady of this hall?'

"She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball.”

"I met her far beyond the lea,

With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be."

Her father of his best men armed fifteen,
And they're ridden after them bidene.

The lady looked owre her left shoulder then;
Says, “O Earl Brand, we are both of us ta'en."

"If they come on me one by one,

You may stand by till the fights be done.

"But if they come on me one and all, You may stand by and see me fall.”

They came upon him one by one,
Till fourteen battles he has won.

And fourteen men he has them slain,
Each after each upon the plain.

30

35

40

45

50

But the fifteenth man behind stole round,
And dealt him a deep and deadly wound.

Though he was wounded to the deid,
He set his lady on her steed.

They rode till they came to the river Doune,
And there they lighted to wash his wound.

“O Earl Brand, I see your heart's blood!'
“It's nothing but the glent and my scarlet hood.”

They rode till they came to his mother's yett,
So faint and feebly he rapped thereat.

"O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon,
And it's all for the sake of an English loon!"

"O say not so, my dearest mother,

о

But marry her to my youngest brother.

55

60

"To a maiden true he'll give his hand,

65

To the king's daughter o' fair England.

"[To the king's daughter o' fair England,] Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!

To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand,” I' the brave nights so early.

58. Qy.? of my scarlet hood.

LA VENDICATRICE. See p. 273.

From Canti Popolari Inediti Umbri, Piceni, Piemontesi, Latini, raccolti e illustrati da ORESTE MARCOALDI. Genova, 1855. p. 167.- From Alessandria.

7 "Ch' u 'm digga lü, Sior Conte;
Ch' u 'm lassa la so' spà."

8

9 “Oh dimì ti, Monfrenna,

10

Cosa ch' a 't na voi fa'?"

11 "A voi tajè 'na frasca,

12 Per ombra al me' cavà."
13 Lesta con la spadenna

15 “ Va là, va là, Sior Conte,

16

Va là 'nte quei boscon ; 17 Le spenni e li serpenti Saran toi compagnon."

18

1 guarda ben, Monferina.

2 quel castello. 8 fanciulle.

4 menate io..

5 negato.

6 tagliato.

7 dica lei, signor.
8 sua spada.
10 vuoi fare.

11 tagliare.

12 cavallo.

13 spadina.

16 (boscon) cespugli.
17 spine.
18 tuoi.