The Twa Sisters, or The Cruel Sister
GLI EXTRA DELLE CCG / AWS EXTRAS / LES EXTRAS DES CCGOriginale | De två systrarna, la versione norvegese della ballata |
THE TWA SISTERS, OR THE CRUEL SISTER There was twa sisters in a bow’r, Edinburgh, Edinburgh There was twa sisters in a bow’r Stirling for ay There came a knight to be their wooer. Bonie Saint Johnston stands upon Tay He courted the eldest wi’ glove and ring But he lovd the youngest above a' thing. He courted the eldest wi’ brotch an knife But he lov’d the youngest as his life. The eldest she was vexed sair, An much envi’d her sister fair. Into her bow’r she could not rest, Wi’ grief an’ spite she almos’ brast. Upon a morning fair an’ clear She cried upon her sister dear: "O sister, come to yon sea stran’ An see our father's ships come to lan’." She’s taen her by the milk-white han’ An led her down to yon sea-stran’. The younges’ stood upon a stane, The eldest cam an’ threw her in. She tooke her by the middle sma’ An’ dashed her bonny back to the jaw. "O sister, sister, tak my han’, An I’se mack you heir to a’ my lan’. "O sister, sister, tak’ my middle, An’ ye’s get my goud and my gouden girdle. O sister, sister, save my life, An’ I swear I’se nair be nae man’s wife." "Foul fa’ the han’ that I should tacke, It twin’d me an my wardles make. Your cherry cheeks an’ yallow hair Gars me gae maiden for evermair." Sometimes she sank, an’ sometimes she swam Till she came down to yon bonny mill-dam. O out it came the miller's son An’ saw the fair maiden swimmin’ in. "O father, father, draw your dam, Here's either a mermaid or a swan." The miller quickly drew the dam, An’ there he found a drown’d womàn. You cou’dna see her yallow hair For gold and pearle that were so rare. You cou’dna see her middle sma’ For gouden girdle that was sae braw. You cou’dna see her fingers white For gouden rings that were sae gryte. An’ by ther came this harper fine That harped to the king at dine. When he did look that lady upon He sigh’d and made a heavy moan. [He made a harp of her breast-bone Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone] He's taen three locks o’ her yallow hair An wi' them strung his harp sae fair. [But as he laid it upon a stane The harp began to play alane.] The first tune he did play and sing Was, Farewell to my father the king. The nextin tune that he play’d syne Was, Farewell to my mother the queen. The lasten tune he play’d then, Was, Wae to my sister, fair Ellen. | THE TWA SISTERS, OR THE CRUEL SISTER Der bodde en bonde ved en strand - Harpa toner vár og fin - To fagre døtre hadde han - Fa la la la la la... - Den eldste til den yngre sa: La oss ned til elva dra Den yngste gikk føre som en sol Den eldste etter som orm i jord Den yngste satte seg på en stein Den eldste dyttet, hun var ikke sein Hun strakte ut sin hvite hand Og ropte: «Søster, hjelp meg i land!» «Nei, hvis jeg ikke hjelper deg Så vil min kjæreste ekte meg» Det var to gjetere på den strand Og de så liket som fløt i land De tok fra hennes kropp et ben Og lagde av det en harpe ven De tok tre lokker av hennes hår Og harpa gyldne strenger får Til søsterens bryllup ble harpa bragt Og på en stubbe der ble den lagt Og det var senere på denne kveld At harpa spilte av seg selv Da den første strengen lød Den fortalte om brudens onde dåd Da den andre strengen slo Bruden som forstenet sto Da den tredje strengen lød Den onde søster hun falt om død. |