Mythology & Folklore
The Broomfield Hill (Child 43E)
From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, ed. F. J. Child (1882–98)
'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.'
Cite this poem
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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