Tricked by a Scotsman －スコットランド人男性に騙されること－

I have not been feeling well this week, and have done little except stay at home and listen to audio books and music.  I listened to an old folk song and enjoyed the lyrics.  It is a Scottish folk song, which tells of how a Scotsman escaped from a prison in Northumberland in the north of England by tricking a young girl. 

I have edited and summarised the lyrics below.  The song is “The Flower of Northumberland”. 

The word “lass” or “lassie” is a Scottish word, meaning a young woman or girl.

 

Verse 1:

The provost’s daughter was walking alone -

Oh, and her love it was easy won -

When she heard a Scots prisoner shout and groan –

Aye, and she was the flower of Northumberland –

Saying, “If only a lassie would borrow a key,” –

Oh, but her love it was easy won –

“I would make her a lady of high degree,

If she set me free from this prison of stone.”

 

In verse 2, the provost’s daughter steals a key and her father’s best horse, and runs away with the Scots prisoner, expecting to become his wife.

 

Verse 3:

As they were riding across the Scots grass,

He cried, “Oh, but your love it was easy won,

Get down from my horse, you’re a brazen faced lass,

Although you’re the flower of Northumberland.

For I have a wife in my own home true -

Oh, but your love it was easy won -

And I cannot do anything with a lassie like you.,

So you’ll need to go back to Northumberland.”

 

In Verse 4, the provost’s daughter begs the Scots prisoner to take her to Scotland, even as his cook.  For she feels she cannot go back to Northumberland to face the shame of her actions.  But the Scots prisoner refuses, and hires an old man and a horse to take her back to her parents.

 

Verse 5:

And when she came home her father did frown,

And he cried, “Oh, but your love it was easy won,

For to go with a Scotsman when you’re barely sixteen,

And you the fair flower of Northumberland!”

Ah, but when she came in her mother did smile,

She said, “Oh, and your love it was easy won,

But you’re not the first lass that a Scot has beguiled,

So you’re welcome back home to Northumberland.”

 

I’m not sure what the moral of the story is.  A mother’s love can forgive her child anything?  It is never too late to go back?  You can’t blame a girl for being tricked by a Scotsman, because they are all such good liars?

 

Vocabulary:

brazen – bold and without shame

[eg., The brazen thief stole the money in daylight, with many people watching.]

to beguile someone – to charm or enchant someone, especially using trickery

[eg., The politician beguiled voters with his smooth promises.]