| Padraic Colum (1881–1972). Anthology of Irish Verse. 1922. |
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| 31. The Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe |
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| By Anonymous |
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| COME all ye lads and lassies and listen to me a while, | |
| And I’ll sing for you a verse or two will cause you all to smile; | |
| It’s all about a young man, and I’m going to tell you now, | |
| How he lately came a-courting of the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe. | |
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| Said he, “My pretty fair maid, will you come along with me, | 5 |
| We’ll both go off together, and married we will be; | |
| We’ll join our hands in wedlock bands, I’m speaking to you now, | |
| And I’ll do my best endeavour for the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe.” | |
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| This fair and fickle young thing, she knew not what to say, | |
| Her eyes did shine like silver bright and merrily did play; | 10 |
| She said, “Young man, your love subdue, for I am not ready now, | |
| And I’ll spend another season at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe. | |
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| Said he, “My pretty fair maid, how can you say so, | |
| Look down in yonder valley where my crops do gently grow, | |
| Look down in yonder valley where my horses and my plough | 15 |
| Are at their daily labour for the Maid of the Sweet Brown Knowe.” | |
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| “If they’re at their daily labour, kind sir, it’s not for me, | |
| For I’ve heard of your behaviour, I have, indeed,” she said; | |
| “There is an Inn where you call in, I have heard the people say, | |
| Where you rap and call and pay for all, and go home at the break of day.” | 20 |
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| “If I rap and call and pay for all, the money is all my own, | |
| And I’ll never spend your fortune, for I hear you have got none. | |
| You thought you had my poor heart broke in talking with me now, | |
| But I’ll leave you where I found you, at the foot of the Sweet Brown Knowe.” | |
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