Classic Poem

My lord said to my lady,
when he went from home,
Take care of Long Longkin,
he lies in the lone.

My lady said to my lord,
when he went abroad,
. . . .
. . .

‘I care not for Longkin,
nor none of his kin,
For my gate 's fast barrd,
and my windows shut in.’

My lord was not gone
many miles from the place,
Untill the false Longkin
came straight to the place.


‘Pinch the bairn, nourry,
pinch it very sore,
Untill the mother
shall come down below.’

‘Still the bairn, nury,
still it with the pap:’
‘It wont be stilld, madam,
with neither this nor that.’

‘Still the bairn, nury,
still it with a bell:’
‘It wont be stilld, madam,
till you cum down yoursell.’


‘Come down, Lady Betty,
the flower of all your kin,
And see your mother's heart's blood,
so freely running.

Down came Lady Betty,
her heart fall of woe:
‘Oh take my life, Longkin,
and let my mother go.’

‘Come down, Lady Nelly,
the flower of all your kin,
And see your sister's heart's blood,
so freely running.’

Down came Lady Nelly,
her heart full of woe:
‘Oh take my life, Longkin,
and let my sister go.’

‘Come down, Lady Jenny, etc.