Mythology & Folklore

The Broomfield Hill (Child 43E)

by Traditional Ballads (Child collection) traditional; texts recorded c. 13th–19th century

From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, ed. F. J. Child (1882–98)

Mythology & Folklore

'I'll wager, I'll wager wi you, fair maid,
Five hunder punds and ten,
That a maid winna gae to the bonnie green bower,
An a maid return back agen.'

'I'll wager, I'll wager wi you, kin' sir,
Five hunder punds and ten,
That a maid I'll gang to the bonnie green bower,
An a maid return again.'

But when she cam to the bonnie green bower,
Her true-love was fast asleep;
Sumtimes she kist his rosie, rosie lips,
An his breath was wondrous sweet.

Sometimes she went to the crown o his head,
Sometimes to the soles o his feet,
Sometimes she kist his rosie, rosie lips,
An his breath was wondrous sweet.

She's taen a ring frae her finger,
Laid it upon his breast-bane;
It was for a token that she had been there,
That she had been there, but was gane.

'Where was you, where was ye, my merrymen a',
That I do luve sae dear,
That ye didna waken me out o my sleep
When my true love was here?

'Where was ye, where was ye, my gay goshawk,
That I do luve sae dear,
That ye didna waken me out o my sleep
When my true love was here?'

'Wi my wings I flaw, kin' sir,
An wi my bill I sang,
But ye woudna waken out o yer sleep
Till your true love was gane.'

'Where was ye, my bonnie grey steed,
That I do luve sae dear,
That ye didna waken me out o my sleep
When my true love was here?'

'I stampit wi my fit, maister,
And made my bridle ring,
But ye wadna waken out o yer sleep,
Till your true love was gane.'

MLA

Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Broomfield Hill (Child 43E).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/150/.

Chicago

Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Broomfield Hill (Child 43E).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/150/.

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