Or wilt thou be my chamberlaine, About my person to remaine? And I will give thee great reward? Chuse, gentle youth,' said he thy place.' The king then smiling gave consent, 55 60 Now marke what fortune did provide; 65 Thus being left alone behind, My former state came in my mind: And meeting with a ladyes vest, And taking up a lute straitwaye, 70 75 80 'My father was as brave a lord, And I myself a ladye gay, Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array; I had my musicke every day But now, alas! my husband's dead, And fetching many a tender sigh, The king, who had a huntinge gone, And when he reach'd his statelye tower, He stopt to listen, and to see Who sung there so melodiouslìe. Thus heard he everye word I sed, Then stepping in, 'Faire ladye, rise, A crimson dye my face orespred, But to be briefe, his royall grace Ah! no, my liege,' I firmlye sayd, 'I'll rather in my grave be layd, And though your grace hath won my heart, Faire ladye, pardon me,' sayd hee, Thy virtue shall rewarded bee, And since it is soe fairly tryde Thou shalt become my royal bride.” Then strait to end his amorous strife, 40 110 115 120 125 180 135 XVIII. GIL MORRICE. A SCOTTISH BALLAD. The following piece hath run through two editions in Scotland: the second was printed at Glasgow in 1755, 8vo. Prefixed to them both is an advertisement, setting forth that the preservation of this poem was owing to a lady, who favoured the printers with a copy, as it was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;' And 'any reader that can render it more correct or complete,' is desired to oblige the public with such improvements. In consequence of this advertisement sixteen additional verses have been produced and handed about in manuscript, which are here inserted in their proper places: (these are from ver. 109, to ver. 121, and from ver. 124, to ver. 129, but are perhaps, after all, only an ingenious interpolation.) As this poem lays claim to a pretty high antiquity, we have assigned it a place among our early pieces: though, after all, there is reason to believe it has received very considerable modern improvements: for in the Editor's ancient MS. collection is a very old imperfect copy of the same ballad: wherein though the leading features of the story are the same, yet the colouring here is so much improved and heightened, and so many additional strokes are thrown in, that it is evident the whole has undergone a revisal. N.B. The Editor's MS. instead of 'lord Barnard,' has John Stewart;' and instead of Gil Morrice,' Child Maurice,' which last is probably the original title. See above, No. IX. GIL MORRICE was an erlès son, His name it waxed wide; Nor yet his mickle pride; That livd on Carron side. 'Quhair sall I get a bonny boy, That will win hose and shoen; That will gae to lord Barnards ha', And ye maun rin my errand, Willie, Ver. 11, something seems wanting here. 5 'O no! Oh no! my master dear! For to triest furth his wife.' 'How can ye strive against the stream? 'Bot, O my master dear!' he cryd, 'In grene wod 1 ye're your lain 1; Gi ower sic thochts, I walde ye rede, If ye refuse my heigh command, Ill Gae bid hir take this gay mantèl, Bid hir cum to the gude grene wode, 'Yes, I will gae your black errand, Ver. 32, and 68, perhaps, 'bout the hem. 1 The Green wood' in this ballad, is the old forest of Dundaff in Stirlingshire.-ED. 40 |