LAMKIN



It's Lamkin was a mason good

As ever built wi' stane,

He built Lord Wearie's castle

But payment he got nane.



But the nourice was a fause limmer

As e'er hung on a tree;

She laid a plot wi' Lamkin,

Whan her lord was o'er the sea.



She laid a plot wi' Lamkin,

When the servants were awa'

Loot him in at a little shot-window

And brought him to the ha'.



"Oh whare's the lady o' this house

That ca's me Lamkin?"

"She's up in her bower sewing

But we soon can bring her down.



Then Lamkin's ta'en a sharp knife

That hung down by his gair

And he has gien the bonny babe

A deep wound and a sair.



Then Lamkin he rocked,

And the fause nourice sang

Till frae ilka bore o' the cradle

The red blood out sprang.



"Oh still my bairn, nourice,

Oh still him wi' the pap!"

"He winna still, lady,

For this nor for that."



"Oh still my bairn, nourice,

Oh still him wi' the bell!"

"He winna still, lady,

Till ye come down yoursel."



Oh the firsten step she steppit

She steppit on a stane;

But the neisten step she steppit

She met him --- Lamkin.



"Oh sall I kill her, nourice,

Or sall I lat her be?"

"Oh kill her, kill her, Lamkin'

For she ne'er was good to me."



"Oh scour the bason, nourice,

And mak' it fair and clean,

For to keep this lady's heart's blood,

For she's come o' noble kin."



"There need nae bason, Lamkin,

Lat it run through the floor;

What better is the heart's blood

O' the rich than o' the poor?"



But ere three months were at an end,

Lord Wearie came again;

"Oh, wha's blood is this" he says,

"That lies in my hame?"



"Oh, wha's blood," says Lord Wearie,

"Is this on my ha'?"

"It is your young son's heart's blood,

It's the clearest ava'."



Oh sweetly sang the blackbird

That sat upon the tree;

But sairer grat Lannkin,

When he was condemned to dee.



And bonny sang the mavis,

Oot o'the thorny brake;

But sairer grat the nourice,

When she was burnt at the stake.



From THe Scottish Folksinger, Buchan and Hall

Child #93

@Scots @ballad @murder

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