V.

BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY.

Given, with some corrections, from an old black letter copy, intitled, _Barbara Allen's cruelty, or the young man's tragedy_.

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[It is not clear why Percy separated this English version of _Barbara Allen_ from the Scottish version entitled _Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allan_ (No. 7).

Goldsmith in his third Essay says, "the music of the finest singer is dissonance to what I felt when our dairy maid sung me into tears with _Johnny Armstrong's Last Good Night_, or the _Cruelty of Barbara Allen_."

It has been suggested that for "Scarlet towne" in the first verse should be read Carlisle town, but as some printed copies have Reading town we may suppose that a pun is intended.]

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In Scarlet towne, where I was borne, There was a faire maid dwellin, Made every youth crye, Wel-awaye! Her name was Barbara Allen.

All in the merrye month of may, 5 When greene buds they were swellin, Yong Jemmye Grove on his death-bed lay, For love of Barbara Allen.

He sent his man unto her then, To the town, where shee was dwellin; 10 You must come to my master deare, Giff your name be Barbara Allen.

For death is printed on his face, And ore his hart is stealin: Then haste away to comfort him, 15 O lovelye Barbara Allen.

Though death be printed on his face, And ore his harte is stealin, Yet little better shall he bee, For bonny Barbara Allen. 20

So slowly, slowly, she came up, And slowly she came nye him; And all she sayd, when there she came, Young man, I think y'are dying.

He turnd his face unto her strait, 25 With deadlye sorrow sighing; O lovely maid, come pity mee, Ime on my deth-bed lying.

If on your death-bed you doe lye, What needs the tale you are tellin: 30 I cannot keep you from your death; Farewell, sayd Barbara Allen.

He turnd his face unto the wall, As deadlye pangs he fell in: Adieu! adieu! adieu to you all, 35 Adieu to Barbara Allen.

As she was walking ore the fields, She heard the bell a knellin; And every stroke did seem to saye, Unworthy Barbara Allen. 40

She turnd her bodye round about, And spied the corps a coming: Laye down, laye down the corps, she sayd That I may look upon him.

With scornful eye she looked downe, 45 Her cheeke with laughter swellin; Whilst all her friends cryd out amaine, Unworthye Barbara Allen.

When he was dead, and laid in grave, Her harte was struck with sorrowe, 50 O mother, mother, make my bed, For I shall dye to-morrowe.

Hard harted creature him to slight, Who loved me so dearlye: O that I had beene more kind to him, 55 When he was alive and neare me!

She, on her death-bed as she laye, Beg'd to be buried by him; And sore repented of the daye, That she did ere denye him. 60

Farewell, she sayd, ye virgins all, And shun the fault I fell in: Henceforth take warning by the fall Of cruel Barbara Allen.