Tri Marghek 1 Y teudh tri marghek a’n howlsedhas Ha dha ley, ha dha lili – o! Hag unn arlodhes, i a’s hwilas prest. Ha dha rosen a rudhis – o. 2 Yn medh an kynsa, yn dillas kann, Awotta tanter dhis, a voren splann. 3 Yn medh an nessa, yn dillas glas, A vydhydh gwreg dhe vy, mar leun a ras? 4 Yn medh an tressa, yn dillas rudh, A wredh demmedhi, dell os moren dhrudh? 5 A wruss’ta mos govynn orth ow thas hag orth ow mamm keffrys a ri kummias? 6 Hag orth ow broder vy, Jowann da, hag orth ow hwoer vy Anna magata? 7 Devri my eth govynn orth dha das keffrys ha’th mamm a ri dhynn hy hummias. 8 Hag orth dha hwoer Anna magata, mes ny wrug govynn hwath orth Jowann da. 9 Hag i y’n fordh veur ow marghogeth erbynn hy broder ena i a dheuth. 10 Hi eth dhe amma dh’y vroder ker, Hag ev a’s gwanas gans y gledha berr. 11 Yn rag, yn rag, sos! a gri an gwas, Dha wreg re gavas goli pur ahas! 12 A, gas dhymm mones y’n pras enos may hallav powes ha dinewi goes! 13 A, gas dhymm mones y’n breow na, ha’m skrifa-kemmyn ena my a’n gwra. 14 Ha pandra vynn’ta ri dhe’th tas? Ow margh morel vy hag yw steda mas. 15 Ha pandra vynn’ta ri dhe’th mamm? Ow krys-demmedhyans a bann dinamm. 16 Mes res yw dhedhi y wolghi glan a woes ow holonn sedhys oll y’n pann. 17 Dhe’m hwoer vy Anna, ow hwoerik hweg, Ow besow owr vy ha breghellik teg. 18 Dhe’m broder Jowann, ow broder drog, Y rov-vy lovan grev ha prenn dh’y grog. 19 Dhe wreg ow broder, yn truedh gwir, Hy dillas-gwedhow hi ha bywnans hir.

Literal translation 1 There came three knights out of the West And thy ‘ley’, and thy lily – o! And a certain lady, they sought her continually. And thy rose did blush – o. 2 Said the first, in white clothing, Behold a suitor for you, O splendid maiden! 3 Said the second, in blue clothing, Will you be my wife, so full of grace? 4 Said the third, in red clothing, Will you marry, precious maiden as you are? 5 Did you ask my father And my mother too, to give permission? 6 And my brother, good John, And my sister Anna also? 7 Indeed I went to ask your father And your mother too, to give permission. 8 And your sister Anna also, But I have not yet asked good John. 9 As they were riding on the highway There they met her brother. 10 She went to kiss her dear brother, And he stabbed her with his short sword. 11Onward, onward, comrades! cries the servant, Your wife has got a very cruel wound! 12 O, let me go into yonder meadow So I can rest and shed blood! 13 O, let me go into those hills:, And my will, there I shall make it. 14 And what will you give your father? My jet-black horse who is a goodly steed. 15 And what will you give your mother? My marriage-shift of faultless cloth. 16 But she must wash it clean of my heart’s blood all sunk into the cloth. 17 To my sister Anna, my sweet little sister, My gold ring and fine bracelet. 18 To my brother John, my evil brother, I give a strong rope and timber for his hanging. 19 To my brother’s wife, in true sorrow, Her widow’s weeds and a long life.

Tri Marghek as sung by Jon Mills / Pyba, St Clements Church Withiel 1994

Three Knights as recorded by Lyonesse in 1974 (Italy) and 1975 (EMI)

The Three Knights was collected in Cornwall by Davies Gilbert and published in his second edition of Some Ancient Christmas Carols in 1823. (Nichols and Son , London 1823) p68.