Johney Scot Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B C DEFE GHIH HJKC LEM GNFN OPBP QKG QRQR QKG STKK HUIU EVKV ERB UEWE XYHY QEW QRXR KXZW KA2H B2C2K DEK HD2HD2 HKE2K XUHU KF2G2 KF2D C2KH2 DI2Y KKX A2LG2 KKG2J2 KKX A2LKK XLL

The Text of this popular and excellent ballad is given from the Jamieson Brown MS It was copied with wilful alterations into Scott's Abbotsford MS called Scottish Songs Professor Child prints sixteen variants of the ballad nearly all from manuscriptsA
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The Story of the duel with the Italian is given with more detail in other versions In two ballads from Motherwell's MS where 'the Italian' becomes 'the Tailliant' or 'the Talliant ' the champion jumps over Johney's head and descends on the point of Johney's sword This exploit is paralleled in a Breton ballad where the Seigneur Les Aubrays of St Brieux is ordered by the French king to combat his wild Moor who leaps in the air and is received on the sword of his antagonist Again in Scottish tradition James Macgill having killed Sir Robert Balfour about went to London to procure his pardon which Charles II offered him on the condition of fighting an Italian gladiator The Italian leaped once over James Macgill but in attempting to repeat this manoeuvre was spitted by his opponent who thereby procured not only his pardon but also knighthoodB
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JOHNEY SCOTC
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O Johney was as brave a knightD
As ever sail'd the seaE
An' he's done him to the English courtF
To serve for meat and feeE
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He had nae been in fair EnglandG
But yet a little whileH
Untill the kingis ae daughterI
To Johney proves wi' chil'H
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O word's come to the king himsel'H
In his chair where he satJ
That his ae daughter was wi' bairnK
To Jack the Little ScottC
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'Gin this be true that I do hearL
As I trust well it beE
Ye pit her into prison strongM
An' starve her till she die '-
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O Johney's on to fair ScotlandG
A wot he went wi' speedN
An' he has left the kingis courtF
A wot good was his needN
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O it fell once upon a dayO
That Johney he thought langP
An' he's gane to the good green woodB
As fast as he coud gangP
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'O whare will I get a bonny boyQ
To rin my errand soonK
That will rin into fair EnglandG
An' haste him back again '-
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O up it starts a bonny boyQ
Gold yallow was his hairR
I wish his mother meickle joyQ
His bonny love mieckle mairR
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'O here am I a bonny boyQ
Will rin your errand soonK
I will gang into fair EnglandG
An' come right soon again '-
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O whan he came to broken briggsS
He bent his bow and swamT
An' whan he came to the green grass growanK
He slaikid his shoone an' ranK
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Whan he came to yon high cast lH
He ran it roun' aboutU
An' there he saw the king's daughterI
At the window looking outU
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'O here's a sark o' silk ladyE
Your ain han' sew'd the sleeveV
You'r bidden come to fair Scotlan'K
Speer nane o' your parents' leaveV
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'Ha take this sark o' silk ladyE
Your ain han' sew'd the gareR
You're bidden come to good green woodB
Love Johney waits you there '-
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She's turn'd her right and roun' aboutU
The tear was in her eeE
'How can I come to my true loveW
Except I had wings to fleeE
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'Here am I kept wi' bars and boltsX
Most grievous to beholdY
My breast plate's o' the sturdy steelH
Instead of the beaten goldY
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'But tak' this purse my bonny boyQ
Ye well deserve a feeE
An' bear this letter to my loveW
An' tell him what you see '-
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Then quickly ran the bonny boyQ
Again to Scotlan' fairR
An' soon he reach'd Pitnachton's tow'rsX
An' soon found Johney thereR
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He pat the letter in his han'K
An' taul' him what he sa'X
But eer he half the letter readZ
He loote the tears doun fa'W
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'O I will gae back to fair Englan'K
Tho' death shoud me betideA2
An' I will relieve the dameselH
That lay last by my side '-
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Then out it spake his father dearB2
'My son you are to blameC2
An' gin you'r catch'd on English groun'K
I fear you'll ne'er win hame '-
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Then out it spake a valiant knightD
Johny's best friend was heE
'I can commaun' five hunder menK
An' I'll his surety be '-
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The firstin town that they came tillH
They gard the bells be rungD2
An' the nextin town that they came tillH
They gard the mess be sungD2
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The thirdin town that they came tillH
They gard the drums beat roun'K
The king but an' his nobles a'E2
Was startl'd at the soun'K
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Whan they came to the king's palaceX
They rade it roun' aboutU
An' there they saw the king himsel'H
At the window looking outU
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'Is this the Duke o' AlbanyK
Or James the Scottish kingF2
Or are ye some great foreign lordG2
That's come a visiting '-
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'I'm nae the Duke of AlbanyK
Nor James the Scottish kingF2
But I'm a valiant Scottish knightD
Pitnachton is my name '-
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'O if Pitnachton be your nameC2
As I trust well it beK
The morn or I tast meat or drinkH2
You shall be hanged hi' '-
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Then out it spake the valiant knightD
That came brave Johney wi'I2
'Behold five hunder bowmen boldY
Will die to set him free '-
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Then out it spake the king againK
An' a scornfu' laugh laugh heK
'I have an Italian in my houseX
Will fight you three by three '-
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'O grant me a boon ' brave Johney criedA2
'Bring your Italian hereL
Then if he fall beneath my swordG2
I've won your daughter dear '-
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Then out it came that ItalianK
An' a gurious ghost was heK
Upo' the point o' Johney's swordG2
This Italian did dieJ2
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Out has he drawn his lang lang bran'K
Struck it across the plainK
'Is there any more o' your English dogsX
That you want to be slain '-
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'A clark a clark ' the king then criedA2
'To write her tocher free'L
'A priest a priest ' says Love JohneyK
'To marry my love and meK
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'I'm seeking nane o' your gold ' he saysX
'Nor of your silver clearL
I only seek your daughter fairL
Whose love has cost her dear '-

Frank Sidgwick



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