Willy Rilly, or, The constant lovers/Willy Rilly
WILLY RILLY.
O Rise up Willy Rilly,
and come along with me,
I mean for to go with you,
and leave this country:
I will leave my father’s dwelling,
his houses and free lands
And away goes Willy Rilly
and his fair Colin Bawn.
Over hills and lofty mountains,
and many a lonesome place;
Thro' many a grove and valley
her company to obtain
Her father followed after them,
with a well armed ban’,
And taken was poor Rilly,
and his fair Colin Bawn.
This lady she was taken,
and in her chamber bound;
And Billy also was taken,
and laid in Sligo Jail:
It's at the bar of justice,
great Fowler's auge to stand,
For nothing else but stealing of,
of his fair Colin Bawn.
It’s here into cold irons
my hands and feet are bound,
Condemned like a murd’rer,
and fast tyed to the ground;
O all this toil and slav’ry,
I'm willing for to stan’,
Still hoping to be saved
by my sweet Colin Bawn.
Up steps the jailor’s son,
and to Billy he did say,
Come rise up Willy Rilly,
you must appear this day
It’s at the bar of justice.
with courage you must stan'.
I’m afraid you’ll suffer sorely,
for your dear Colin Bawn.
This lady she was sensible
all in her tender youth,
If Billy had deluded her,
she must declare the truth:
Much like a morning angel bright,
before him she did stand
You are welcome here my heart's delight
my fair sweet Colin Bawn.
It’s out spoke her father dear,
at the table he stood by,
This villian came amongst us,
to disgrace our family;
The pride of these inferiors,
I am not fit to stand,
If I cant get satisfaction,
I will leave my native land.
Up spoke the lady fair
with the salt tear in her eye,
The fault is none of Billy’s,
the fault lies all on me,
I forc’d him for to leave this place,
and go along with me,
I loved him out of measure,
which proved my destiny.
Up spoke noble folks
at the table he stood by,
Gentlemen of the jury,
look on extremity,
To hang a man for love
it’s a murder you may see,
O spare the life of Billy
let him leave this country.
But my good lord he stole from her,
her jewels and fine things,
Gold watch and silver buckles
with many other things,
Which cost me bright guineas
more than five hundred pounds,
I will have the life of Billy
should it cost ten thousand pounds.
It’s my good Lord I gave him them,
as a token of true-love.
And when we are a parting,
we will have them all removed,
And if you have got them,
pray send them unto me,
I will my loving lady
with thanks given unto thee.
There is one ring amongst them all,
I allow yourself to wear.
With thirty shining diamonds,
set in with silver clear;
As a true lover’s token
to wear on your right hand,
That you may think on broken hearts,
when you are in a foreign land.
Up spoke the noble judge, saying,
you may let the pris’ner go.
The lady she has cleared him,
the jury well may know
She has released her own true love,
and has renewed her name.
That her honour great may gain estate,
And always rise in fame.