Spriguns Trysting Tree
"Ferry me over thou good boatman
I pray thee ferry me o'er
That I may see my lady tonight
Or I never may see her no more"
"Oh the wind blows high and the stream runs strong
I dare not ferry you o'er
You cannot see your lady tonight
If you never will see her no more"
"I will see her tonight my life be spared
For I've heard the death's owl scream
Who's heard it once may not hear it again
'Twas in my awful dream"
"My boat is moored I will not cross
Sir Knight thou mayest away
Or rest thee tonight till the morning light
'N' we will cross at break of day"
"Here's gold in store you shall have more
To venture across with me
If we die ere we reach the other bank
A mass shall be said for thee"
"My boat is unmoored" they both leap in
And steer for the other side
"Now swim thou swiftly thou fearless boat
Against the rushing tide
For thy life thy boatman push
For the stream runs swifter on
And another boats length with all thy strength
The bank you have safely won"
Oh 'tis past, 'tis past they've reached the side
And they both leap out on the bank
And 'tis well, 'tis well with an eddying whirl
The boat now swiftly sank
And Sir Gaulter hath given the boatman gold
Then hastes to the Trysting Tree
What a rueful sight for a gallant knight
'Twas there for him to see
Oh the lady Isobel blackened and scorched
By the lightning blast of heaven
And that stately tree where they oft had met
Was leafless blasted and riven
And he kneeled him down o'er the lifeless form
And the death owl o'er him flew
It screamed as it past on the rushing blast
His fate Sir Gaulter knew
And he gathered his lady in his arms
And rushed to the river side
And plunged from the bank and both of them sank
Into the rolling tide