Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

THE CRUEL MOTHER.
There lives a lady in London
All alone, and alonie;
— —
She's gane wi' bairn to the clerk's* son-
Doun by the greenwud sae bonnie.
She has tane her mantle her about
All alone, and alonie;
She's gane aff to the gude greenwud,
Doun by the greenwud sae bonnie.
She has set her back until an aik
All alone, and alonie;
First it bowed and syne it brake
Doun by the greenwud sae bonnie.
* Clerk—The priest.