Little Musgrave

Verse It fell upon a holy-day As many in the year, Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there Verse And some were dressed in velvet red and some in velvet pale And then in came Lord Barnard's wife, The fairest among them all. Verse She cast an eye on Little Musgrave, full bright as the summer sun; Said Musgrave unto himself "This lady's heart have I won." Verse I have loved you fair lady for long and many's the day and I have loved you little Musgrave though never a word did say Verse 'I have a bower at Bucklesfordberry, It's me hearts delight I'll take you back there with me If you'll lie in my arms all night.' Verse But standing by was a little footpage, From the lady's coach he ran. 'Although I am my lady's page, I am Lord Barnard's man. Verse 'Lord Barnard shall know of this, Whether I sink or swim;' c And everywhere the bridges were broke, He'd enter the water and swim. Verse " Lord Barnard, my Lord Barnard, you are a man of life, but Musgrave he's at Bucklesfordberry, Asleep with your wedded wife.' Verse 'If this be true, me little footpage, This thing that you tell me, All the gold in Bucklesford Berry Gladly I'll give to thee. Verse 'But if this be a lie, thou little foot page, This thing that you tell me, From the highest tree in Bucklesfordberry, Hanged you shall be.' Verse "Go saddle me the black he said go saddle me the grey and sound you not your horns," he said "lest our coming you betray" Verse But there was a man in Lord Barnard's train Who loved the little Musgrave and he blew his horn both loud and shrill 'Away, Musgrave, away.' Verse 'I think I hear the morning cock, I think I hear the jay; I think I hear Lord Barnard's men, And I wish I was away.' Verse 'Lie still, lie still, thou Little Musgrave, And hug me from the cold; 'It's only a shepherd's boy, A-bringing his flock to fold. Verse 'Is not your hawk upon it's perch? Your steed eats oats and hay; And You've a lady in your arms, And yet you'd go away?' Verse So he's turned around and he's kissed her twice and then they fell asleep when they awoke Lord Barnard's Men were standing at their feet. Verse "How do you like me bed?" he said, and "How do you like me sheets?" "And how do you like me fair lady , that lies in you arms asleep?" Verse "It's well I like your bed," he said " and great it gives me pain, I would gladly give a hundred pounds to be on yonder plain.' Verse So slowly, so slowly he got up So slowly he put on Slowly down the stairs Thinking to be slain. Verse Rise up rise up,little Musgrave, rise up and then put on; It shall not be said in fair Ireland that I slayed a naked man. Verse 'There are two swords down at my side, and dear they cost my purse; And you shall have the best of them, And I will take the worse.' Verse The first rook that Musgrave struck It hurt Lord Barnard sore; But the next rook that Lord Barnard struck, Little Musgrave ne'er struck more. Verse Then up and spake the fair lady, from on her bed she lay.' 'Although you're dead, Little Musgrave, Still for you I"ll pray. Verse "How do you like his cheek?" he said, and "how do you like his chin? and how do you like his dead body, now there's no life within." Verse "It's well I like his cheek" she said, "and more I want his chin, It's more I love his dead body, than all your kith and kin." Verse He's taken out his long,long sword, to strike the mortal blow, and through, and through the lady's heart the cold steel it did go Verse 'A grave, a grave,' Lord Barnard cried, 'To put these lovers in; But put my lady on the upper half, For she came from better kin.' Verse 'For I've just killed the finest knight That ever rode a steed; And I've just slain the fairest lady That ever did a woman's deed." Verse It fell upon a holy-day As many's in the year, Musgrave to the church did go to see fine ladies there