Francis James Child

“ Wiltow twinn with thy maidenhead, or thy sweet life?"
"O kind sir, if I hae't at my will,
I'll twinn with my life, keep my maidenhead still."
He's taen out his we pen-knife,
He's twinned this young lady of her sweet life.
He wiped his knife along the dew;
But the more he wiped, the redder it grew.
The youngest of them she's to the wood gane,
To seek her two sisters, and to bring them hame.
There she met with an outlyer bold,
Lies many long nights in the woods so cold.
"Istow a maid, or istow a wife?
Wiltow twinn with thy maidenhead, or thy sweet life?" ”

“ When up has started a banished man.
He has taen the eldest by the hand,
He has turned her about and bade her stand.
"Now whether will ye be a banisht man's wife,
Or will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?"
"I will na be ca'd a banished man's wife,
I'll rather be sticked wi your pen-knife."
And he has taen out his little pen-knife,
And frae this lady he has taen the life.
He has taen the second by the hand,
He has turned her about and he bad her stand.
"Now whether will ye be a banisht man's wife,
Or will ye be sticked wi my pen-knife?"
"I will na be ca'd a banished man's wife ”