Sweet William rode up to the old man's gate

And boldly he did say

"Oh the youngest daughter she my stay at home,

But the oldest I'll take away"

"Come in,come in all seven of my sons

And guard your sister round

For it never shall be said the steward's son

Has taken my daughter out of town"

"I thank you sir,and it's very kind

But I'm none of the steward's son

My father was a reginer's king

My mother's a Quaker's queen"

So he got on his snow-white steed

And she on the dapple gray

He swung his bugle horn around his neck

And they went riding away

They hadn't gone more than a mile out of town

'Til she looked back again

And she saw her father and all seven of her brothers

Come tripling over the plain

"Light down'light down"Sweet William said he

And hold my steed by the reigns

"I'll fight your father and all seven of your brothers

Come tripling over the plain"

"Slack your hand,slack your hand!"Sweet William said she

"Your wounds are very sore

The blood runs free from every vein

Oh father I can have no more"

So he got on his snow-white steed

And she on the dapple gray

He Swung his bugle horn around his neck

And they went bleeding away

They rode all night to his mother's gate

And tingling on the ring

"Oh mother,mother asleep or awake

Arise and let me in"

"Bind my head,bind my head!"Sweet William said he

My wounds are very sore

The blood runs free from every vein

For me you will bind no more"

About two hours,before it was day

As the foweles began to crow

Sweet William died from the wounds he received

Fair Ellen died from sorrow