Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "THE MER-MAN, AND MARSTIG'S DAUGHTER", by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"THE MER-MAN, AND MARSTIG'S DAUGHTER", by                    
First Line: "'now rede me, dear mither, a sonsy rede"
Last Line: They dance wi' nae sic unco man'
Subject(s): Knights & Knighthood


"NOW rede me, dear mither, a sonsy rede;
A sonsy rede swythe rede to me,
How Marstig's daughter I may fa',
My love and lemman gay to be."

She's made him a steed o' the clear water:
A saddle and bridle o' sand made she;
She's shap'd him into a knight sae fair,
Syne into Mary's kirk-yard rade he.

He's tied his steed to the kirk-stile,
Sync wrang-gates round the kirk gaed he;
When the Mer-man entered the kirk-door,
Awa the sma' images turned their ee'.

The priest afore the altar stood:
"O, what for a gude knight may this be?"
The may leugh till hersell, and said,
"God gif that gude knight were for me!"

The Mer-man he stept o'er ae deas,
And he has steppit over three:
"O maiden, pledge me faith and troth!
O Marstig's daughter, gang wi' me!"

And she raught out her lily hand,
And pledg'd it to the knight sae free:
"Hae; there's my faith and troth, Sir Knight,
And willingly I'll gang wi' thee."

Out frae the kirk gaed the bridal train,
And on they danc'd wi' fearless glee;
And down they danc'd unto the strand,
Till twasome now alane they be:
"O Marstig's daughter, haud my steed,
And the bonniest ship I'll bigg for thee!"

And whan they came to the white sand,
To shore the sma' boats turning came;
And whan they came to the deep water,
The maiden sank in the saut sea faem.

The shriek she shriek'd amang the waves
Was heard far up upo' the land:
"I rede gude ladies, ane an a',
They dance wi' nae sic unco man."





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