THE WORM OF SPINDLESTONHEUGH
He's put his mouth to her laidley mouth,
He's kissed her once and twice;
"I had liever lose God's dear body
Than kiss this foul worm thrice."
He's kissed her once and twice;
"I had liever lose God's dear body
Than kiss this foul worm thrice."
He's put his mouth to her laidley mouth,
He's kissed her kisses three;
The flesh fell frae her laidley mouth
And frae her rank body;
And it was but his sister Helen
Stood at Lord Richard's knee.
He's kissed her kisses three;
The flesh fell frae her laidley mouth
And frae her rank body;
And it was but his sister Helen
Stood at Lord Richard's knee.
She was clad all in the fair red samite,
Her mouth was red and fair;
There was nae burd in the good land
That had such yellow hair.
Her mouth was red and fair;
There was nae burd in the good land
That had such yellow hair.
He's tane him to the witch mother
That sat by her bairn's bed;
The gold was gone in her grey hair,
Her face was heavy and red.
That sat by her bairn's bed;
The gold was gone in her grey hair,
Her face was heavy and red.
"O wae be wi' you, ye ill woman,
And the young bairn at your knee;
There's never a bairn shall die abed
That comes of your body."
And the young bairn at your knee;
There's never a bairn shall die abed
That comes of your body."
"Now God you save, my fair brother,
For his dear body that was dead;
Now God you save and maiden Mary,
That kept me of her maidenhead."
For his dear body that was dead;
Now God you save and maiden Mary,
That kept me of her maidenhead."
39
