Where there is no place For the glow-worm to lye; 10 Where there is no space For receipt of a fly; Where the midge dares not venture, Lest herself fast she lay; If love come, he will enter, 15 And soon find out his way.
You may esteem him A child for his might; Or you may deem him A coward from his flight; 20
But if she, whom love doth honour, Be conceal'd from the day, Set a thousand guards upon her, Love will find out the way.
Some think to lose him, 25 By having him confin'd; And some do suppose him, Poor thing, to be blind; But if ne'er so close ye wall him, Do the best that you may, 30 Blind love, if so ye call him, Will find out his way.
You may train the eagle To stoop to your fist; Or you may inveigle 35 The phenix of the east; The lioness, ye may move her To give o'er her prey; But you'll ne'er stop a lover: He will find out his way.
Seems to be composed (not without improvements) out of two ancient English ones, printed in the former part of this volume. See book i. ballad xv. and book ii. ballad iv.--If this had been the original, the authors of those two ballads would hardly have adopted two such different stories: besides, this contains enlargements not to be found in either of the others. It is given with some corrections, from a MS. copy transmitted from Scotland.
[Jamieson prints a version of this ballad which was taken down from the recitation of Mrs. W. Arrot of Aberbrothick, and is entitled _Sweet Willie and Fair Annie_. He contends that it is "pure and entire," and expresses his opinion that the text of Percy's copy had been "adjusted" previous to its leaving Scotland.]
Lord Thomas and fair Annet Sate a' day on a hill; Whan night was cum, and sun was sett, They had not talkt their fill.
Lord Thomas said a word in jest, 5 Fair Annet took it ill: A'! I will nevir wed a wife Against my ain friends will.
Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife, A wife wull neir wed yee. 10 Sae he is hame to tell his mither, And knelt upon his knee:
O rede, O rede, mither, he says, A gude rede gie to mee: O sall I tak the nut-browne bride, 15 And let faire Annet bee?
The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear, Fair Annet she has gat nane; And the little beauty fair Annet has, O it wull soon be gane! 20
