And when he looked that lady on, Binnorie, O Binnorie; He sigh'd and made a heavy moan; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. He made a harp of her breast-bone, Binnorie, O Binnorie; Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. The strings he framed of her yellow hair, Binnorie, O Binnorie; Whose notes made sad the listening ear; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. He brought it to her father's hall, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And there was the court assembled all; 85 90 95 He laid his harp upon a stone, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And straight it began to play alone; By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. 100 "O yonder sits my father, the king, Binnorie, O Binnorie ; And yonder sits my mother, the queen;" "And yonder stands my brother Hugh, Binnorie, O Binnorie; And by him my William, sweet and true.” By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. But the last tune that the harp play'd then, Was-"Woe to my sister, false Helen!" By the bonny milldams of Binnorie. 105 110 THE TWA SISTERS. Verbatim (with one interpolated stanza) from the recitation of Mrs. Brown. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, i. 50. THERE was twa sisters liv'd in a bower, There came a knight to be their wooer, He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring, But he loved the youngest aboon a' thing, He courted the eldest wi' broach and knife, But he loved the youngest as his life, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 10 The eldest she was vexed sair, And sair envied her sister fair, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Intill her bower she coudna rest, Binnorie, O Binnorie! Wi' grief and spite she maistly brast, Upon a morning fair and clear, She cried upon her sister dear, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. "O sister, come to yon sea strand, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And see our father's ships come to land," She's ta'en her by the milk-white hand, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And led her down to yon sea strand, The youngest stood upon a stane, The eldest came and threw her in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 15 20 25 30 35 She took her by the middle sma' Binnorie, O Binnorie! And dashed her bonny back to the jaw, "O sister, sister, tak my hand, And I'se mak ye heir to a' my land, "O sister, sister, tak my middle, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And ye's get my goud and my gouden girdle, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. "O sister, sister, save my life, Binnorie, O Binnorie! And I swear I'se never be nae man's wife," "Foul fa' the hand that I should tak, It twin'd me o' my warldes mak, "Your cherry cheeks and yellow hair Binnorie, O Binnorie! Gars me gang maiden for evermair," By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. 40 45 50 60 |