Willie Reilly and His Own Dear Colleen Bán
Source: The Stone Fiddle by Paddy Tunney
Location: New Edition, page 51 / 52 / 53
”O rise up Willie Reilly and come along with me.
I mean for to go with you and leave this counterie.
I’ll leave my father’s castle, his riches and free lands.”
And away went Willie Reilly and his own dear Colleen Bán.
O’er lofty hills and mountain, through silent groves and plains,
Through shady groves and valleys, all danger to refrain.
Her father followed after, with his well-armed band
And taken was poor Reilly and his own dear Colleen Bán.
It’s home then she was taken and in her closet bound.
Poor Reilly all in Sligo Gaol lay on the stony ground.
Till at the bar of justice before the judge he’d stand
For nothing but the taking of his own dear Colleen Bán.
“And now I’m in cold irons, my hands and feet are bound.
I’m handcuffed like a murderer and tied unto the ground.
But all this toil and slavery I’m willing for to stand
In hopes that I’ll be succoured by my own dear Colleen Bán.
The jailer’s son to Reilly goes, and this to him did say:
“O rise up Willie Reilly, to stand your trial this day
The great Squire Folliard’s anger you never can withstand.
I fear you’ll suffer sorely for your own dear Colleen Bán.”
“This is the new O Reilly, last night I heard of thee
The lady’s oath will hand you, or else wills et you free.”
“If that be true,” said Reilly, “with pleasure I will stand
In hope that I’ll be succoured by my own dear Colleen Bán.”
Now Reilly’s dressed from top to toe, all in a suit of green.
His hair hangs o’er his shoulders, most glorious to be seen.
He’s tall and straight and comely as any could be found.
He’s fit for Folliard’s daughter were she heiress to a crown.
The judge he said: “This lady being in her tender youth
If Reilly has deluded her, she will declare the truth.”
Then like a moving beauty bright before them she did stand,
“You’re welcome there, my heart’s delight, my own dear Colleen Bán,”
“O gentlemen,” Squire Folliard said, “with pity look on me.
This villain came amongst us to disgrace my family,
And by his base contrivance this villainy was planned.
I’ll have the life of Reilly or I’ll leave this Irish land.”
The lady all in tears began, and thus replied she:
“The fault is none of Reilly’s, the blame is all on me.
I forced him for to leave his place and come along with me.
I loved all out of measure, which proved our destiny.”
Then outspoke the noble Fox, at the table as he stood by:
“O gentleman, consider in this extremity,
To hang a man for love is a murder you may see.
So, spare the life of Reilly to leave this counterie.”
“Good my lord, he stole from her, her jewels and her rings,
Gold watch and silver buckles and many precious things,
Which cost me in bright value above two thousand pounds.
I’ll have the life of Reilly or my estate I’ll drown.”
“Good my lord, I gave them all in token of true love,
And now that we are parting, I’ll have them all removed.
If you have them O Reilly, pray send them back to me
“I will, my loving lady, with many thanks,” he said.
“There is one ring among them which I gave to your to wear
With thirty diamond lockets, well set in silver hair.
As a token of my true love, wear it on your right hand
That you may think on my broken heart, when in a foreign land.”
Then outspoke the noble Fox: “Pray let the prisoner go.
The lady’s oath has cleared him, as the jury all do know.”
She has released her own true love and has renewed his name
That he honour great, may gain estate and everlasting fame.