93. Rare Willy drowned in Yarrow. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

93. Rare Willy drowned in Yarrow

‘WILLY’S rare, and Willy’s fair,

And Willy’s wondrous bonny;

And Willy heght to marry me,

Gin e’er he marryd ony.

‘Yestreen I made my bed fu’ braid,

The night I’ll make it narrow,

For a’ the live-long winter’s night

I lie twin’d of my marrow.

III

‘O came you by yon water-side?

Pu’d you the rose or lilly?

Or came you by yon meadow green?

Or saw you my sweet Willy?’

She sought him east, she sought him west,

She sought him braid and narrow;

Sine, in the clifting of a craig,

She found him drown’d in Yarrow.

GLOSS: heght] promised. twin’d] deprived. marrow] mate. clifting] cleft.