by Walter Scott, Sir (1771 - 1832)

The border widow's lament
 (Sung text for setting by J. Haydn)
 See original
Language: English 
My love built me a bonnie bower,
And clad it a' wi' lilye flower;
A brawer bower ye ne'er did see,
Than my true love he built for me.

There came a man, by middle day,
He spied his sport, and went away;
And brought the king, at dead of night,
Who brake my bower, and slew my knight.

 ... 

I sewed his sheet, making my mane;
I watched the corpse, myself alane;
I watched his body, night and day;
No living creature came that way.

I took his body on my back,
And whiles I gaed, and whiles I sat;
I digged a grave, and laid him in,
And happed him with the sod sae green.

 ... 

Nae living man I'll love again,
Since that my lovely knight is slain;
Wi' ae lock of his yellow hair,
I'll chain my heart for evermair.
Thomson noted: "This affecting Fragment, obtained by Mr Scott from recitation, is said to relate to the execution of Cockburne of Henderland, a Border freebooter, hanged over the gate of his own tower by James V.., in the course of that memorable expedition in 1529, which was fatal to Johnie Armstrong, Adam Scott of Tushielaw, and many other marauders."
Glossary:
Brawer = finer, more handsome
Happed = wrapped, covered

Composition:

    Set to music by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "The border widow's lament", Hob. XXXIa:232, JHW. XXXII/4 no. 289, stanzas 1-2,4-5,7 [ voice and piano ]

Text Authorship:

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Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani

This text was added to the website: 2009-07-05
Line count: 28
Word count: 204