Jessy, the flower o' Dunblane/The Maid in Bedlam
THE MAID IN BEDLAM.
One morning very early.
One morning in the spring,
I heard a maid in Bedlam,
Who mournfully did sing,
Her chains she rattled in her hands,
While sweetly thus sung she,
love my love, because I know,
My love loves me.
Oh! cruel were his parents,
Who sent my love to sea,
And cruel, cruel was the ship,
That bore my love from me,
Yet I love his parents since they're his,
Although they’ve ruin'd me,
And I love my love, because I know,
My love loves me.
Should it please the pitying powers,
To call me to the sky,
It’d claim a guardian angel’s charge,
Around my love to fly;
To guard him from all dangers,
How happy should I be!
For I love my love, because I knew,
My love loves me.
I’ll make a strawy garland.
I’ll make it wondrous fine,
With roses, lillies, daisies,
I’ll mix the eglantine;
And I’ll present it to my love,
When he returns from, sea,
For I love my love, because I know,
my love loves me.
O! If I was a little bird,
To build upon his breast,
Or if I was a nightingale,
To sing my love to rest;
To gaze upon his lovely eyes,
All my reward should be,
For I love my love, because I know,
My love loves me.
O if I were an eagle,
To soar into the sky,
I gaze around with piercing eyes,
Where I my love might spy.
But Ah! unhappy maiden,
That love you ne’er shall see,
Yet I love my love, because I know,
My love loves me.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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