| |
| THERE 1 was twa sisters in a bowr, | |
| Binnorie, O Binnorie! | |
| There cam a knight to be their wooer, | |
| By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie. | |
| |
| He courted the eldest wi glove and ring, | 5 |
| But he loved the youngest abune a’ thing. | |
| |
| He courted the eldest wi brotch and knife, | |
| But lovd the youngest as his life. | |
| |
| The eldest she was vexèd sair, | |
| And much envi’d her sister fair. | 10 |
| |
| Upon a morning fair and clear, | |
| She cried upon her sister dear: | |
| |
| ‘O sister, come to yon sea stran, | |
| An see our father’s ships come to lan.’ | |
| |
| She’s taen her by the milk-white han, | 15 |
| An led her down to yon sea stran. | |
| |
| The youngest stood upon a stane, | |
| The eldest came and threw her in. | |
| |
| She took her by the middle sma, | |
| An dashed her bonnie back to the jaw. | 20 |
| |
| ‘O sister, sister, tak my han, | |
| An Ise mack you heir to a’ my lan. | |
| |
| ‘O sister, sister, tak my middle | |
| An yes get my goud and my gouden girdle. | |
| |
| ‘O sister, sister, save my life, | 25 |
| An I swear Ise never be nae man’s wife. | |
| |
| ‘Foul fa the han that I should tacke, | |
| It twind me an my wardles make. | |
| |
| ‘Your cherry cheeks an yallow hair | |
| Gars me gae laiden for evermair.’ | 30 |
| |
| Sometimes she sank, an sometimes she swam, | |
| Till she came down yon bonny mill-dam. | |
| |
| O out it came the miller’s son, | |
| An saw the fair maid swimmin in. | |
| |
| ‘O father, father, draw your dam, | 35 |
| Here’s either a mermaid or a swan.’ | |
| |
| The miller quickly drew the dam, | |
| And there he found a drownd woman. | |
| |
| You coudna see her yellow hair | |
| For gold and pearle that were so rare. | 40 |
| |
| You coudna see her middle sma | |
| For gouden rings that was sae gryte. | |
| |
| An by there came a harper fine, | |
| That harped to the king at dine. | |
| |
| When he did look that lady upon, | 45 |
| He sighd and made a heavy moan. | |
| |
| He’s taen three locks o her yallow hair, | |
| An wi them strung his harp sae fair. | |
| |
| The first tune he did play and sing, | |
| Was, ‘Farewell to my mother the queen.’ | 50 |
| |
| The lasten tune that he playd then, | |
| Binnorie, O Binnorie! | |
| Was, ‘Wae to my sister, fair Ellen.’ | |
| By the bonnie milldams o’ Binnorie. | |
