THE TWO MAGICIANS



The lady sits at her own front door

As straight as a willow wand

And by there come a lusty smith

With his hammer in his hand



Crying bide lady bide

For there's a nowhere you can hide

For the lusty smith will be your love

And he will lay your pride.



Why do you sit there lady fair

All in your robes of red

I'll come tomorrow at this same time

And have you in me bed



Crying . . .



Away away you coal black smith

Would you do me this wrong

For to think to have me maiden head

That I have kept so long



I'd rather I was dead and cold

And me body laid in the grave

Than a lusty, dusty, coal black smith

Me maiden head should have



Crying . . .



So the lady, she curled up her hand

And swore upon the mold

That he'd not have her maiden head

For all of a pot of gold.



But the blacksmith he curled up his hand

And he swore upon the mast

That he would have her maiden head

For the half of that or less



Crying . . .



So the lady she turned into a dove

And flew up into the air

Ah, but he became an old cock pigeon

And they flew pair and pair



Cooing . . .

So the lady she turned into a mare

As dark as the night was black

Ah, but he became a golden saddle

And he clumb upon to her back



Itching . . .



So the lady she turned into a hare

And ran all over the plane

Ah, but he became a greyhound dog

And ran her down again



Barking . . .



So the lady she turned into a fly

And fluttered up into the air

Ah, but he became a big, hairy spider

And dragged her into his lair



Spinning . . .





So the lady she turned into a sheep

Grazing on yon common

Ah, but he became a big horny ram

And soon he was upon her.



Bleating . . .



So she turned into a full dress ship

And she sailed all over the sea

Ah, but he became a bold captain

And aboard of her went he



Ordering . . .



So the lady she turned into a cloud

Floating away in the air

Ah, but he became a lightning flash

And zipped right into her



Shocking . . .



So she turned into a mulberry tree

A mulberry tree in the wood

Ah, but he came forth as the morning dew

And sprinkled her where she stood.



Dripping . . .



So the lady she ran into the bedroom

And she changed into a bed

Ah, but he became a green coverlet

And he gained her maiden head



And once she woke he took her so

And still he bad her bide

And the lusty smith became her love

For all of her mighty pride.



This song is a derivative of Child Ballad 44, with a tune by

A. L. Lloyd. It was recorded by John Roberts & Tony Barrand on

Dark Ships in the Forest, Folk Legacy 65 in the key of C.

also by Frankie Armstrong on Bird in the Bush and by Carthy

Child #44

@magic @animal @ballad @courtship

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