Babylon; Or, The Bonnie Banks o Fordie (Child 14B)

There wond three ladies in a bower,
Annet and Margret and Marjorie
And they have gane out to pu a flower.
And the dew it lyes on the wood, gay ladie

They had nae pu'd a flower but ane,
When up has started a banished man.

He has taen the eldest by the hand,
He has turned her about and bade her stand.

'Now whether will ye be a banisht man's wife,
Or will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?'

'I will na be ca'd a banished man's wife,
I'll rather be sticked wi your pen-knife.'

And he has taen out his little pen-knife,
And frae this lady he has taen the life.

He has taen the second by the hand,
He has turned her about and he bad her stand.

'Now whether will ye be a banisht man's wife,
Or will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?'

'I will na be ca'd a banished man's wife;
I'll rather be sticked wi your pen-knife.'

And he has taen out his little pen-knife,
And frae this lady he has taen the life.

He has taen the youngest by the hand,
He has turned her about and he bad her stand.

'Now whether will ye be a banished man's wife,
Or will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?'

'I winnae be called a banished man's wife,
Nor yet will I be sticked wi your pen-knife.

'But gin my three brethren had been here,
Ye had nae slain my sisters dear.'