Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight 1 FAIR lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing, Aye as he gowans grow gay There she heard an elf-knight blawing his horn. The first morning in May 2 'If I had yen horn that I hear blawing, And yen elf-knight to sleep in my bosom.' 3 This maiden had scarcely these words spoken, Till in at her window the elf-knight has luppen. 4 'It's a very strange matter, fair maiden,' said he, 'I canna blaw my horn but ye call on me. 5 'But will ye go to yon greenwood side? If ye canna gang, I will cause you to ride.' 6 He leapt on a horse, and she on another, And they rode on to the greenwood together. 7 'Light down, light down, lady Isabel,' said he, 'We are come to the place where ye are to die.' 8 'Hae mercy, hae mercy, kind sir, on me, Till ance my dear father and mother I see.' 9 'Seven king's-daughters here hae I slain, And ye shall be the eight o them.' 10 '0 sit down a while, lay your head on my knee, That we may hae some rest before that I die.' 11 She stroakd him sae fast, the nearer he did creep, Wi a sma charm she lulld him fast asleep. 12 Wi his ain sword-belt sae fast as she ban him, Wi his ain dag-durk sae sair as she dang him. 13 'If seven king's-daughters here ye hae slain, Lye ye here, a husband to them a'.' Child #4 Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 22. b. die. Motherwell's MS., p. 563. SOF OCT98
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!