Classic Poem

1
Her mother died when she was young,
Which gave her cause to make great moan;
Her father married the worst woman
That ever lived in Christendom.
2

She served her with foot and hand,
In everything that she could dee,
Till once, in an unlucky time,
She threw her in ower Craigy's sea.
3

Says, "Lie you there, dove Isabel,
And all my sorrows lie with thee;
Till Kemp Owyne come ower the sea,
And borrow you with kisses three,
Let all the world do what they will,
O borrowed shall you never be!'
4

Her breath grew strang, her hair grew lang,
And twisted thrice about the tree,
And all the people, far and near,
Thought that a savage beast was she.
5

These news did come to Kemp Owyne,
He hasted him to Craigy's sea,
And daunting not to stand him nigh,
Upon the savage beast looked he.
6

Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
And twisted was about the tree,
And with a swing she came about:
"Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with me.'
7

"Here is a royal belt,' she cried,
"That I have found in the green sea;
And while your body it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I vow my belt your death shall be.'
8

He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal belt he brought him wi';
Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
And twisted twice about the tree,
And with a swing she came about:
"Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with me.'
9

"Here is a royal ring,' she said,
"That I have found in yon green sea;
And while your finger it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I swear my ring your death shall be.'
10

He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal ring he brought him wi';
Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
And twisted once about the tree,
And with a swing she came about:
"Come to Craigy's sea, and kiss with me.'
11

"Here is a royal brand,' she said,
"That I have found in yon green sea;
And while your body it is on,
Drawn shall your blood never be;
But if you touch me, tail or fin,
I swear my brand your death shall be.'
12

He stepped in, gave her a kiss,
The royal brand he brought him wi';
Her breath was sweet, her hair grew short,
And twisted nane about the tree,
And smilingly she came about,
As fair a woman as fair could be.
13

"O was it wolf into the wood,
Or was it fish into the sea,
Or was it man, or wily woman,
My true love, that misshapit thee?'
14

"It was no wolf into the wood,
Nor was it fish into the sea,
But it was my false stepmother,
O woe an weary might she be!
15

"O a heavier weird light her upon
Than ever fell on false woman;
May her hair grow rough, and her teeth grow lang,
And on her four feet may she gang,
May none take pity her upon,
But in Wormie's Wood she shall aye wone.'