Hughie Grame
anonimo
| Originale | HUGHIE GRAME (or HUGHIE THE GRAEME)(versione Ewan MacColl & Peggy... |
| HUGHIE GRAME As it befell upon one time, About mid-summer of the year, Every man was taxt of his crime, For stealing the good Lord Bishop's mare. The good Lord Screw he sadled a horse, And rid after this same scrime; Before he did get over the moss, There was he aware of Sir Hugh of the Grime. 'Turn, O turn, thou false traytor, Turn, and yield thyself unto me; Thou hast stolen the Lord Bishops mare, And now thou thinkest away to flee.' 'No, soft, Lord Screw, that may not be! Here is a broad sword by my side, And if that thou canst conquer me, The victory will soon be try'd.' 'I ner was afraid of a traytor bold, Although thy name be Hugh in the Grime; I'le make thee repent thy speeches foul, If day and life but give me time.' 'Then do thy worst, good Lord Screw, And deal your blows as fast as you can; It will be try'd between me and you Which of us two shall be the best man.' Thus as they dealt their blows so free, And both so bloody at that time, Over the moss ten yeomen they see, Come for to take Sir Hugh in the Grime. Sir Hugh set his back against a tree, And then the men encompast him round; His mickle sword from his hand did flee, And then they brought Sir Hugh to the ground. Sir Hugh of the Grime now taken is And brought back to Garlard town; [Then cry'd] the good wives all in Garlard town, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou 'st ner gang down. ' The good Lord Bishop is come to the town, And on the bench is set so high; And every man was taxt to his crime, At length he called Sir Hugh in the Grime. 'Here am I, thou false bishop, Thy humours all to fulfill; I do not think my fact so great But thou mayst put it into thy own will.' The quest of jury-men was calld, The best that was in Garlard town; Eleven of them spoke all in a breast, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou 'st ner gang down. ' Then another questry-men was calld, The best that was in Rumary; Twelve of them spoke all in a breast, 'Sir Hugh in the Grime, thou'st now guilty.' Then came down my good Lord Boles, Falling down upon his knee: 'Five hundred peices of gold would I give, To grant Sir Hugh in the Grime to me.' 'Peace, peace, my good Lord Boles, And of your speeches set them by! If there be eleven Grimes all of a name, Then by my own honour they all should dye.' Then came down my good Lady Ward, Falling low upon her knee: 'Five hundred measures of gold I'le give, To grant Sir Hugh of the Grime to me.' 'Peace, peace, my good Lady Ward, None of your proffers shall him buy! For if there be twelve Grimes all of a name, By my own honour they all should dye.' Sir Hugh of the Grime's condemnd to dye, And of his friends he had no lack; Fourteen foot he leapt in his ward, His hands bound fast upon his back. Then he lookt over his left shoulder, To see whom he could see or spy; Then was he aware of his father dear, Came tearing his hair most pittifully. 'Peace, peace, my father dear, And of your speeches set them by! Though they have bereavd me of my life, They cannot bereave me of heaven so high.' He lookt over his right shoulder, To see whom he could see or spye; There was he aware of his mother dear, Came tearing her hair most pittifully. 'Pray have me remembred to Peggy, my wife; As she and I walkt over the moor, She was the cause of [the loss of] my life, And with the old bishop she plaid the whore. 'Here, Johnny Armstrong, take thou my sword, That is made of the mettle so fine, And when thou comst to the border-side, Remember the death of Sir Hugh of the Grime. | HUGHIE GRAME Il Laird di Hume è andato a caccia sulle colline e le montagne E ha sorpreso Sir Hughie Graeme, A rubare la giumenta del vescovo. coro Tay ammarey, O Londonderry Tay ammarey, O London dee. Lo hanno legato mani e piedi E condotto per la città di Stirling; Una quindicina (1) di loro urlava con una sola voce: ‘Sir Hughie Graeme, sarà impiccato’! “Se dovessi morire- disse Hughie Graeme,- I miei genitori la considereranno una grande perdita” E fece un balzo di 15 piedi in aria Con le mani legate strette dietro la schiena. Si alzò a parlare Lady Black, E di sua spontanea volontà: “Darei mille sterline mio signore Se mi libererete Hugh Graeme.” “Frenate la lingua, voi Lady Black Smettetela con questa supplica! Anche se me ne dareste diecimila, E’ per il mio onore, che deve morire” Poi si alzò a parlare Lady Hume E si una donna affranta lei era: “Vi darei un centinaio di bianchi destrieri Se mi darete Sir Hugh Graeme.” “Frenate la lingua, voi Lady Hume Smettetela con questa supplica! Anche tutti i Graeme fossero in questa corte, Dovrebbe essere impiccato in alto per me” Lui si guardò dietro alla spalla sinistra Per vedere cosa riusciva scorgere; Si accorse allora del suo vecchio padre Che piangeva e piagnucolava amaramente “Taci, mio amato padre, E smettila di piangere! Perchè mi possono portare via la vita Ma non possono bandirmi dal Paradiso” Darai a mio fratello John la spada Che è fatta d’acciaio e pregalo di venire alle 8 in punto Per vedermi pagare la giumenta del Vescovo” “E fratello James prendi la spada Che è fatta d’acciaio brunito Ritorna al mattino alle 8 in punto Per vedere suo fratello penzolare X “Darai la notizia a Maggie, mia moglie; La prossima volta che passerai per Stirling, Per colpa sua ho perso la vita, Lei con il Vescovo saltava la cavallina”(1) |
(2) to play the loun= to behave unchastely, commit fornication