Lamkin (Child 93R)

When Sir Guy and his train
gaed to hunt the wild boar,
He gard bar up his castle,
behind and before.

And he bade his fair lady
guard weel her young son,
For wicked Balcanqual
great mischief had done.

So she closed a' the windows,
without and within,
But forgot the wee wicket,
and Balcanqual crap in.

Syne Balcanqual he rocked,
and fause nourice sang,
Till through a' the cradle
the baby's blood sprang.

'O please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the keys:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
for a' that he sees.'

And Balcanqual ay rocked,
while fause nourice sang,
And through a' the cradle
the baby's blood ran.

'Please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the knife:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
tho I'd gie my life.'

And Balcanqual still rocked,
and fause nourice sang,
While through a' the cradle
the baby's blood ran.

'Now please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the bell:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come yoursell.'

Down came this fair lady,
tripping down the stair,
To see her sick bairn,
but returned never mair.

'Now scour the bason, Jenny,
and scour 't very clean,
To haad this lady's blood,
for she's of noble kin.'