THE LADY AND THE FARMER'S SON



Young lovers all, I pray draw near

And a relation you shall hear

Of how a lady was undone

By loving of a farmer's son.



His age,it was just twenty-two

As I the truth do tell to you.

He was well formed in every limb.

This lady fell in love with him.



She wrote him letters every day,

But he to her would nothing say

Because he knew he was going to wed

Sally, her handsome chamber-maid.



As she was walking in the grove,

By chance she met with her own true love,

Saying, "Kind sir, upon my life

I do intend to be your wife."



"O lady fair, that cannot be

For you to be a wife to me,

Because you know I am engaged

To Sally, your handsome chamber-maid."



She wrung her hands and tore her hair,

And cried, "Alas I'm in despair.

How can you slight me so?" she said,

"All for a silly chambermaid ?"



"If only I was from her free

Then I could love you tenderly,

But I am bound to her by oath,

You know I cannot wed you both."



The lady thought, "If that be so,

I soon will prove her overthrow,

For she my waiting maid shall be

And we will cross the raging sea."



This lady had contrived it so

All for to work her overthrow

As this poor maiden lay asleep

She plunged her body in the deep.



Now this fair lady on return

Found conscience like vexatious burn

For never could she be at rest

Until the deed she had confessed.



'Tis now she lies confined in jail.

The Lord have mercy on her soul.

Distracted did this young man run,

In Bedlam lies the farmer's son.



'Twas by the help of curs-ed gold,

This pretty maiden's life was sold.

'Tis now a lass and you may see

Has proved the ruin of all three.



From Ballads Migrant in New England, Flanders

Collected from Elmer George, VT 1933

@murder @love @jealousy

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