The idea of changing shape to avoid capture and outwit or kill a pursuer is common in European folk tale. In Britain, the tales spawned this ballad. A.L. Lloyd writes (Sing Out! 18/1): "Eventually the ballad dwindled away, but it seemed too good a song to remain unsused; so I brushed it up and fitted a tune, and now it appears to have started a new life."

The lady sits at her own front door as straight as the willow wand,
And by there come a lusty smith with his hammer in his hand (crying):

     Bide, lady, bide, for there's nowhere you can hide,
     For the lusty smith will be your love, and he will lay your pride.

"Why may you sit there, lady fair, all in your robes of red?
Why, come tomorrow at this same time, I'll have you in my bed" (crying):

"Away, away, you coal-black smith, would you do me this wrong,
For to think to have my maidenhead that I have kept so long?
I'd rather I was dead and cold, and my body laid in the grave,
Than a husky, dusky, coal-black smith my maidenhead should have" (crying):

So the lady she curled up her hand, and she swore upon the mould
That he'd not have her maidenhead for all of a pot of gold.
But the blacksmith he curled up his hand, and he swore upon the mass
That he would have her maidenhead for the half of that or less (crying):

So the lady, she turned into a dove and flew up into the air,
Ah, but he became an old cock-pigeon, and they flew pair and pair (cooing):

So the lady, she turned into a mare as dark as the night was black,
Ah, but he became a golden saddle, and he clung upon to her back (itching):

So the lady, she turned into a hare, and ran all over the plain,
Ah, but he became a greyhound dog, and he ran her down again (barking):

So the lady, she turned into a fly and fluttered up into the air,
Ah, but he became a big hairy spider and dragged her into his lair (spinning):

So the lady, she turned into a sheep a-grazing on yon common,
Ah, but he became a big horny ram, and soon he was upon her (bleating):

So she turned into a full-dressed ship, and she sailed all over the sea,
Ah, but he became a bold captain and aboard of her went he (ordering):

So the lady, she turned into a cloud a-floating away in the air,
Ah, but he became a lightning flash and he zipped right into her (shocking):

So she turned into a mulberry tree, a mulberry tree in the wood,
Ah, but he came forth as the morning dew and he sprinkled her where she stood (dripping):

So the lady, she ran into the bedroom, and she changed into a bed,
Ah, but he became a green coverlet and he gained her maidenhead:

And once she woke, he took her so, and still he bade her bide,
And the lusty smith became her love, for all of her mighty pride.

© Golden Hind Music