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Bonny Bee Hom

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Bonny Bee Hom (Roud 3885, Child 92) is an English-language folk song.

Synopsis

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A lady laments that her love had left her. He, still there, comes to comfort her but tells her that he is sworn to leave. She gives him a ring: while he wears it, he will shed no blood, but if he sees the stone fade, he will know she is dead. He is departed for "twelve month and a day" before the stone fades. He gives all his goods as alms to his hometown, and dies, uniting with the lady's soul in heaven.

Motifs

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The magic ring is found also in the ballad "Hind Horn".[1]

References

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  1. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, v 2, p 317, Dover Publications, New York 1965