The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24700   Message #284828
Posted By: hesperis
25-Aug-00 - 02:44 AM
Thread Name: Ballads with Plot Twists?
Subject: Lyr Add: THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT
leenia - for you.



The Outlandish Knight

An outlandish knight came out of the North
To woo a maiden fair
He promised to take her to the North lands
Her father's only heir

"Come, fetch me some of your father's gold
And some of your mother's fee
And two of the best nags out of the stable
Where they stand thirty and three"

She fetched him some of her father's gold
And some of her mother's fee
And two of the best nags out of the stable
Where they stand thirty and three

She mounted her on her milk-white steed
He on the dapple grey
They rode till they came unto the sea-side
Three hours before it was day

"Light off, light off thy milk-white steed
And deliver it unto me
Six pretty maids have I drowned here
And thou the seventh shall be

Pull off, pull off thy silken gown
And deliver it unto me
Methinks it looks to rich and too gay
To rot in the salt sea

Pull off, pull off thy silken stays
And deliver them unto me
Methinks they are to fine and gay
To rot in the salt sea

Pull off, pull off thy Holland smock
And deliver it unto me
Methinks it looks to rich and gay
To rot in the salt sea"

"If I must pull off my Holland smock
Pray turn thy back unto me
For it is not fitting that such a ruffian
A woman unclad should see"

He turned his back towards her
And viewed the leaves so green
She caught him round the middle so small
And tumbled him into the stream

He dropped high, and he dropped low
Until he came to the tide ---
"Catch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden
And I will make you my bride"

"Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man
Lie there instead of me
Six pretty maidens have you drowned here
And the seventh has drowned thee"

She mounted on her milk-white steed
And led the dapple grey
She rode till she came to her father's hall
Three hours before it was day



Is there a melody for this?
Where can I learn it?


One other thing, although this is one of my favorite childhood poems, it is not the one that named my cat.

~*sirepseh*~