FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[84]gar’d her drie = caused her to suffer.[85]lighter = i. e. delivered of her child.[86]tett = tuft.[87]chess =? jess, strap.[88]Billy Blind = a Brownie, or friendly House-spirit.[89]pit = put.[90]pat = did put.[91]forbye = aside.[92]kaims = combs.[93]shee = shoe.

[84]gar’d her drie = caused her to suffer.

[85]lighter = i. e. delivered of her child.

[86]tett = tuft.

[87]chess =? jess, strap.

[88]Billy Blind = a Brownie, or friendly House-spirit.

[89]pit = put.

[90]pat = did put.

[91]forbye = aside.

[92]kaims = combs.

[93]shee = shoe.

I‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,And a cow low down in yon glen:Lang, lang will my young son greet[94]Or his mither bid him come ben[95]!II‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,And a cow low down in yon fauld:Lang, lang will my young son greetOr his mither take him frae cauld!’III[The Queen of Elfan’s nourice[96]She sits and sings her lane]‘Waken, Queen of ElfanAnd hear your nourice moan.’—IV‘O moan ye for your meat,Or moan ye for your fee,Or moan ye for the ither bountiesThat ladies are wont to gie?’—V‘I moan na for my meat,Nor moan I for my fee,Nor moan I for the ither bountiesThat ladies are wont to gie.VI[‘But I heard a bonnie cowLow down in yonder fauld]And I moan for my young sonI left in four nights auld.VII‘I moan na for my meat,Nor yet for my fee;But I moan for Christen land;It’s there I fain would be.’VIII‘O nurse my bairn, nourice,Till he stan’ at your knee,An ye’s win hame to Christen landWhar fain it’s ye wad be.IX‘O keep my bairn, nourice,Till he gang by the hauld[97],An ye’s win hame to your young sonYe left in four nights auld.X‘O nourice lay your head[Here] upo’ my knee:See ye not that narrow roadUp by yonder tree?XI[‘See ye not the narrow roadBy yon lillie leven?]That’s the road the righteous goesAnd that’s the road to heaven.XII‘An’ see na ye that braid roadDown by yon sunny fell?Yon’s the road the wicked gae,An’ that’s the road to hell.XIII[‘An’ see na ye that bonny roadAbout the fernie brae?That wins back frae ElflandWhere you must wait to gae.’]

‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,And a cow low down in yon glen:Lang, lang will my young son greet[94]Or his mither bid him come ben[95]!

‘I heard a cow low, a bonnie cow low,And a cow low down in yon fauld:Lang, lang will my young son greetOr his mither take him frae cauld!’

[The Queen of Elfan’s nourice[96]She sits and sings her lane]‘Waken, Queen of ElfanAnd hear your nourice moan.’—

‘O moan ye for your meat,Or moan ye for your fee,Or moan ye for the ither bountiesThat ladies are wont to gie?’—

‘I moan na for my meat,Nor moan I for my fee,Nor moan I for the ither bountiesThat ladies are wont to gie.

[‘But I heard a bonnie cowLow down in yonder fauld]And I moan for my young sonI left in four nights auld.

‘I moan na for my meat,Nor yet for my fee;But I moan for Christen land;It’s there I fain would be.’

‘O nurse my bairn, nourice,Till he stan’ at your knee,An ye’s win hame to Christen landWhar fain it’s ye wad be.

‘O keep my bairn, nourice,Till he gang by the hauld[97],An ye’s win hame to your young sonYe left in four nights auld.

‘O nourice lay your head[Here] upo’ my knee:See ye not that narrow roadUp by yonder tree?

[‘See ye not the narrow roadBy yon lillie leven?]That’s the road the righteous goesAnd that’s the road to heaven.

‘An’ see na ye that braid roadDown by yon sunny fell?Yon’s the road the wicked gae,An’ that’s the road to hell.

[‘An’ see na ye that bonny roadAbout the fernie brae?That wins back frae ElflandWhere you must wait to gae.’]

FOOTNOTES:[94]greet= cry.[95]ben= to the inner room.[96]nourice = nurse.[97]gang by the hauld = walk by holding on to the hand.

[94]greet= cry.

[95]ben= to the inner room.

[96]nourice = nurse.

[97]gang by the hauld = walk by holding on to the hand.

IMy plaid awa’, my plaid awa’,And o’er the hill and far awa’;And far awa’ to Norrowa’,My plaid shall not be blown awa’!IILady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,Aye as the gowans[98]grow gay—She heard an elf-knight his horn blawing,The first morning in May.IIIThe elfin-knight sits on yon hill,He blaws his horn baith loud and shrill.IVHe blaws it east, he blaws it west,He blaws it where he lyketh best.V‘I wish that horn were in my kist[99],Yea, and the knight in my arms niest[100].’VIShe had no sooner these words said,When that knight came to her bed.VII‘Thou art owre young a maid,’ quoth he,‘Married with me thou ill wouldst be.’—VIII‘I have a sister younger than I,And she was married yesterday.’—IX‘Married with me if thou wouldst be,A courtesie thou must do to me.X‘For thou must shape a sark[101]to meWithout any cut or hem,’ quoth he.XI‘It’s ye maun shape it knife-and-shurlesse,And also sew it needle-threedlesse.XII‘And ye maun wash it in yonder well,Where the dew never wat[102]nor the rain never fell.XIII‘And ye maun dry it upon a thornThat never budded sin Adam was born.’—XIV‘Now sin ye have asked some things o’ me,It’s right I ask as mony o’ thee.XV‘My father he ask’d me an acre o’ landBetween the saut sea and the strand.XVI‘And ye maun are[103]it wi’ your blawin’ horn,And ye maun sow it wi’ pepper corn.XVII‘And ye maun harrow it with ae tyne[104],And ye maun shear it with ae horse bane.XVIII‘And ye maun stack it in yon mouse-hole,And ye maun thresh it in yon shoe-sole.XIX‘And ye maun winnow it in your loof[105],And ye maun sack it in your glove.XX‘And ye maun bring it owre the sea,Fair and clean and dry to me.XXI‘And when ye’ve done an’ finish’d your wark,Come to me, love, an’ get your sark.’XXII‘It’s I’ll not quit my plaid for my life;It haps my seven bairns and my wife.’The wind sall not blaw my plaid awa’:‘And it’s I will keep me a maiden still,Let the elfin knight do what he will’—The wind has not blawn my plaid awa’!

My plaid awa’, my plaid awa’,And o’er the hill and far awa’;And far awa’ to Norrowa’,My plaid shall not be blown awa’!

Lady Isabel sits in her bower sewing,Aye as the gowans[98]grow gay—She heard an elf-knight his horn blawing,The first morning in May.

The elfin-knight sits on yon hill,He blaws his horn baith loud and shrill.

He blaws it east, he blaws it west,He blaws it where he lyketh best.

‘I wish that horn were in my kist[99],Yea, and the knight in my arms niest[100].’

She had no sooner these words said,When that knight came to her bed.

‘Thou art owre young a maid,’ quoth he,‘Married with me thou ill wouldst be.’—

‘I have a sister younger than I,And she was married yesterday.’—

‘Married with me if thou wouldst be,A courtesie thou must do to me.

‘For thou must shape a sark[101]to meWithout any cut or hem,’ quoth he.

‘It’s ye maun shape it knife-and-shurlesse,And also sew it needle-threedlesse.

‘And ye maun wash it in yonder well,Where the dew never wat[102]nor the rain never fell.

‘And ye maun dry it upon a thornThat never budded sin Adam was born.’—

‘Now sin ye have asked some things o’ me,It’s right I ask as mony o’ thee.

‘My father he ask’d me an acre o’ landBetween the saut sea and the strand.

‘And ye maun are[103]it wi’ your blawin’ horn,And ye maun sow it wi’ pepper corn.

‘And ye maun harrow it with ae tyne[104],And ye maun shear it with ae horse bane.

‘And ye maun stack it in yon mouse-hole,And ye maun thresh it in yon shoe-sole.

‘And ye maun winnow it in your loof[105],And ye maun sack it in your glove.

‘And ye maun bring it owre the sea,Fair and clean and dry to me.

‘And when ye’ve done an’ finish’d your wark,Come to me, love, an’ get your sark.’

‘It’s I’ll not quit my plaid for my life;It haps my seven bairns and my wife.’The wind sall not blaw my plaid awa’:‘And it’s I will keep me a maiden still,Let the elfin knight do what he will’—The wind has not blawn my plaid awa’!

FOOTNOTES:[98]gowans= daisies.[99]kist = chest.[100]niest = next.[101]sark = shirt.[102]wat = wetted.[103]are = plough.[104]ae tyne = one harrow-point.[105]loof = palm.

[98]gowans= daisies.

[99]kist = chest.

[100]niest = next.

[101]sark = shirt.

[102]wat = wetted.

[103]are = plough.

[104]ae tyne = one harrow-point.

[105]loof = palm.

IThere were three sisters fair and bright,Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary,And they three loved one valiant knight—As the dow[106]flies over the mulberry-tree.IIThe eldest sister let him in,And barr’d the door with a silver pin.IIIThe second sister made his bed,And placed soft pillows under his head.IVThe youngest sister that same nightWas resolved for to wed wi’ this valiant knight.V‘And if you can answer questions three,O then, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee.VI‘O what is louder nor a horn,Or what is sharper nor a thorn?VII‘Or what is heavier nor the lead,Or what is better nor the bread?VIII‘Or what is longer nor the way,Or what is deeper nor the sea?’—IX‘O shame is louder nor a horn,And hunger is sharper nor a thorn.X‘O sin is heavier nor the lead,The blessing’s better nor the bread.XI‘O the wind is longer nor the wayAnd love is deeper nor the sea.’XII[‘You have answer’d aright my questions three,]Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary;And now, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee,As the dow flies over the mulberry-tree.

There were three sisters fair and bright,Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary,And they three loved one valiant knight—As the dow[106]flies over the mulberry-tree.

The eldest sister let him in,And barr’d the door with a silver pin.

The second sister made his bed,And placed soft pillows under his head.

The youngest sister that same nightWas resolved for to wed wi’ this valiant knight.

‘And if you can answer questions three,O then, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee.

‘O what is louder nor a horn,Or what is sharper nor a thorn?

‘Or what is heavier nor the lead,Or what is better nor the bread?

‘Or what is longer nor the way,Or what is deeper nor the sea?’—

‘O shame is louder nor a horn,And hunger is sharper nor a thorn.

‘O sin is heavier nor the lead,The blessing’s better nor the bread.

‘O the wind is longer nor the wayAnd love is deeper nor the sea.’

[‘You have answer’d aright my questions three,]Jennifer, Gentle and Rosemary;And now, fair maid, I’ll marry wi’ thee,As the dow flies over the mulberry-tree.

FOOTNOTES:[106]dow= dove.

[106]dow= dove.

IFalse Sir John a-wooing cameTo a maid of beauty fair;May Colvin was this lady’s name,Her father’s only heir.IIHe woo’d her but[107], he woo’d her ben,He woo’d her in the ha’;Until he got the lady’s consentTo mount and ride awa’.III‘Go fetch me some of your father’s gold,And some of your mother’s fee,And I’ll carry you into the north land,And there I’ll marry thee.’IVShe’s gane to her father’s coffersWhere all his money lay,And she’s taken the red, and she’s left the white,And so lightly she’s tripp’d away.VShe’s gane to her father’s stableWhere all the steeds did stand,And she’s taken the best, and she’s left the warstThat was in her father’s land.VIShe’s mounted on a milk-white steed,And he on a dapple-grey,And on they rade to a lonesome part,A rock beside the sea.VII‘Loup[108]off the steed,’ says false Sir John,‘Your bridal bed you see;Seven ladies I have drownèd here,And the eight’ one you shall be.VIII‘Cast off, cast off your silks so fineAnd lay them on a stone,For they are too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.IX‘Cast off, cast off your silken stays,For and your broider’d shoon,For they are too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.X‘Cast off, cast off your Holland smockThat’s border’d with the lawn,For it is too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.’—XI‘O turn about, thou false Sir John,And look to the leaf o’ the tree;For it never became a gentlemanA naked woman to see.’XIIHe turn’d himself straight round aboutTo look to the leaf o’ the tree;She’s twined her arms about his waistAnd thrown him into the sea.XIII‘O hold a grip o’ me, May Colvín,For fear that I should drown;I’ll take you home to your father’s bowerAnd safe I’ll set you down.’XIV‘No help, no help, thou false Sir John,No help, no pity thee!For you lie not in a caulder bedThan you thought to lay me.’XVShe mounted on her milk-white steed,And led the dapple-grey,And she rode till she reach’d her father’s gate,At the breakin’ o’ the day.XVIUp then spake the pretty parrot,‘May Colvin, where have you been?What has become o’ false Sir JohnThat went with you yestreen?’—XVII‘O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot!Nor tell no tales o’ me;Your cage shall be made o’ the beaten goldAnd the spokes o’ ivorie.’XVIIIUp then spake her father dear,In the bed-chamber where he lay;‘What ails the pretty parrot,That prattles so long ere day?’—XIX‘There came a cat to my cage, master,I thought ’t would have worried me,And I was calling to May ColvínTo take the cat from me.’

False Sir John a-wooing cameTo a maid of beauty fair;May Colvin was this lady’s name,Her father’s only heir.

He woo’d her but[107], he woo’d her ben,He woo’d her in the ha’;Until he got the lady’s consentTo mount and ride awa’.

‘Go fetch me some of your father’s gold,And some of your mother’s fee,And I’ll carry you into the north land,And there I’ll marry thee.’

She’s gane to her father’s coffersWhere all his money lay,And she’s taken the red, and she’s left the white,And so lightly she’s tripp’d away.

She’s gane to her father’s stableWhere all the steeds did stand,And she’s taken the best, and she’s left the warstThat was in her father’s land.

She’s mounted on a milk-white steed,And he on a dapple-grey,And on they rade to a lonesome part,A rock beside the sea.

‘Loup[108]off the steed,’ says false Sir John,‘Your bridal bed you see;Seven ladies I have drownèd here,And the eight’ one you shall be.

‘Cast off, cast off your silks so fineAnd lay them on a stone,For they are too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.

‘Cast off, cast off your silken stays,For and your broider’d shoon,For they are too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.

‘Cast off, cast off your Holland smockThat’s border’d with the lawn,For it is too fine and costlyTo rot in the salt sea foam.’—

‘O turn about, thou false Sir John,And look to the leaf o’ the tree;For it never became a gentlemanA naked woman to see.’

He turn’d himself straight round aboutTo look to the leaf o’ the tree;She’s twined her arms about his waistAnd thrown him into the sea.

‘O hold a grip o’ me, May Colvín,For fear that I should drown;I’ll take you home to your father’s bowerAnd safe I’ll set you down.’

‘No help, no help, thou false Sir John,No help, no pity thee!For you lie not in a caulder bedThan you thought to lay me.’

She mounted on her milk-white steed,And led the dapple-grey,And she rode till she reach’d her father’s gate,At the breakin’ o’ the day.

Up then spake the pretty parrot,‘May Colvin, where have you been?What has become o’ false Sir JohnThat went with you yestreen?’—

‘O hold your tongue, my pretty parrot!Nor tell no tales o’ me;Your cage shall be made o’ the beaten goldAnd the spokes o’ ivorie.’

Up then spake her father dear,In the bed-chamber where he lay;‘What ails the pretty parrot,That prattles so long ere day?’—

‘There came a cat to my cage, master,I thought ’t would have worried me,And I was calling to May ColvínTo take the cat from me.’

FOOTNOTES:[107]but, ben = both in the outer and inner rooms.[108]loup = leap.

[107]but, ben = both in the outer and inner rooms.

[108]loup = leap.

IAs I was walking mine alaneAtween a water and a wa’,There I spied a wee wee man,And he was the least that ere I saw.IIHis legs were scant a shathmont’s[109]length,And thick and thimber[110]was his thie[111];Atween his brows there was a span,And atween his shoulders there was three.IIIHe’s ta’en and flung a meikle stane,And he flang ’t as far as I could see;Though I had been a Wallace wightI couldna liften ’t to my knee.IV‘O wee wee man, but ye be strang!O tell me where your dwelling be?’‘My dwelling’s down by yon bonny bower;Fair lady, come wi’ me and see.’VOn we lap[112], and awa’ we rade,Till we came to yon bonny green;We lighted down to bait our steed,And out there came a lady sheen[113];VIWi’ four and twenty at her backA’ comely clad in glisterin’ green;Tho’ the King of Scotland had been there,The warst o’ them might ha’ been his queen.VIIOn we lap, and awa’ we rade,Till we came to a bonny ha’;The roof was o’ the beaten gowd,And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.VIIIWhen we came to the stair-foot,Ladies were dancing jimp[114]and sma’,But in the twinkling of an eieMy wee wee man was clean awa’.IXOut gat the lights, on came the mist,Ladies nor mannie mair cou’d I see:I turn’d about, and gae a lookJust at the foot o’ Benachie.

As I was walking mine alaneAtween a water and a wa’,There I spied a wee wee man,And he was the least that ere I saw.

His legs were scant a shathmont’s[109]length,And thick and thimber[110]was his thie[111];Atween his brows there was a span,And atween his shoulders there was three.

He’s ta’en and flung a meikle stane,And he flang ’t as far as I could see;Though I had been a Wallace wightI couldna liften ’t to my knee.

‘O wee wee man, but ye be strang!O tell me where your dwelling be?’‘My dwelling’s down by yon bonny bower;Fair lady, come wi’ me and see.’

On we lap[112], and awa’ we rade,Till we came to yon bonny green;We lighted down to bait our steed,And out there came a lady sheen[113];

Wi’ four and twenty at her backA’ comely clad in glisterin’ green;Tho’ the King of Scotland had been there,The warst o’ them might ha’ been his queen.

On we lap, and awa’ we rade,Till we came to a bonny ha’;The roof was o’ the beaten gowd,And the floor was o’ the cristal a’.

When we came to the stair-foot,Ladies were dancing jimp[114]and sma’,But in the twinkling of an eieMy wee wee man was clean awa’.

Out gat the lights, on came the mist,Ladies nor mannie mair cou’d I see:I turn’d about, and gae a lookJust at the foot o’ Benachie.

FOOTNOTES:[109]shathmont = measure from the point of the extended thumb to the extremity of the palm, six inches.[110]thimber = stout.[111]thie = thigh.[112]lap = leapt.[113]sheen = shining, beautiful.[114]jimp = slim, slender.

[109]shathmont = measure from the point of the extended thumb to the extremity of the palm, six inches.

[110]thimber = stout.

[111]thie = thigh.

[112]lap = leapt.

[113]sheen = shining, beautiful.

[114]jimp = slim, slender.

IO Alison Gross, that lives in yon tow’r,The ugliest witch i’ the north countrie,Has trysted[115]me ae day up till her bow’rAnd mony fair speeches she made to me.IIShe straik’d my head an’ she kaim’d my hair,An’ she set me down saftly on her knee;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,Sae mony braw things as I would you gie!’IIIShe show’d me a mantle o’ red scarlét,Wi’ gouden flowers an’ fringes fine;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman[116]sae true,This gudely gift it sall be thine.’—IV‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,Haud[117]far awa’, an’ lat me be!I never will be your lemman sae true,An’ I wish I were out o’ your company.’VShe neist brought a sark o’ the saftest silk,Well wrought wi’ pearls about the band;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,This gudely gift ye sall command.’VIShe show’d me a cup o’ the good red gowd,Well set wi’ jewels sae fair to see;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,This gudely gift I will you gie.’—VII‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,Haud far awa’, an’ lat me be!For I wouldna once kiss your ugly mouthFor a’ the gifts that ye could gie.’VIIIShe’s turn’d her right an’ roun’ about,An’ thrice she blaw on a grass-green horn;An’ she sware by the moon an’ the stars abuneThat she’d gar me rue the day I was born.IXThen out has she ta’en a silver wand,An’ she’s turn’d her three times roun’ and roun’;She mutter’d sic words till my strength it fail’d,An’ I fell down senseless upon the groun’.XShe’s turn’d me into an ugly worm,And gar’d me toddle about the tree;An’ ay, on ilka Saturday’s night,My sister Maisry came to me,XIWi’ silver bason an’ silver kaimTo kaim my headie upon her knee;But or I had kiss’d [wi’ Alison Gross]I’d sooner ha’ toddled about the tree.XIIBut as it fell out, on last Hallowe’en,When the Seely Court[118]was ridin’ by,The Queen lighted down on a gowany[119]bankNae far frae the tree where I wont to lye.XIIIShe took me up in her milk-white han’,An’ she’s straik’d me three times o’er her knee;She changed me again to my ain proper shape,An’ nae mair I toddle about the tree.

O Alison Gross, that lives in yon tow’r,The ugliest witch i’ the north countrie,Has trysted[115]me ae day up till her bow’rAnd mony fair speeches she made to me.

She straik’d my head an’ she kaim’d my hair,An’ she set me down saftly on her knee;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,Sae mony braw things as I would you gie!’

She show’d me a mantle o’ red scarlét,Wi’ gouden flowers an’ fringes fine;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman[116]sae true,This gudely gift it sall be thine.’—

‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,Haud[117]far awa’, an’ lat me be!I never will be your lemman sae true,An’ I wish I were out o’ your company.’

She neist brought a sark o’ the saftest silk,Well wrought wi’ pearls about the band;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,This gudely gift ye sall command.’

She show’d me a cup o’ the good red gowd,Well set wi’ jewels sae fair to see;Says, ‘Gin ye will be my lemman sae true,This gudely gift I will you gie.’—

‘Awa’, awa’, ye ugly witch,Haud far awa’, an’ lat me be!For I wouldna once kiss your ugly mouthFor a’ the gifts that ye could gie.’

She’s turn’d her right an’ roun’ about,An’ thrice she blaw on a grass-green horn;An’ she sware by the moon an’ the stars abuneThat she’d gar me rue the day I was born.

Then out has she ta’en a silver wand,An’ she’s turn’d her three times roun’ and roun’;She mutter’d sic words till my strength it fail’d,An’ I fell down senseless upon the groun’.

She’s turn’d me into an ugly worm,And gar’d me toddle about the tree;An’ ay, on ilka Saturday’s night,My sister Maisry came to me,

Wi’ silver bason an’ silver kaimTo kaim my headie upon her knee;But or I had kiss’d [wi’ Alison Gross]I’d sooner ha’ toddled about the tree.

But as it fell out, on last Hallowe’en,When the Seely Court[118]was ridin’ by,The Queen lighted down on a gowany[119]bankNae far frae the tree where I wont to lye.

She took me up in her milk-white han’,An’ she’s straik’d me three times o’er her knee;She changed me again to my ain proper shape,An’ nae mair I toddle about the tree.

FOOTNOTES:[115]trysted = invited.[116]lemman = sweetheart.[117]haud = hold, keep.[118]Seely Court = the Happy Court (of the Fairies).[119]gowany = daisied.

[115]trysted = invited.

[116]lemman = sweetheart.

[117]haud = hold, keep.

[118]Seely Court = the Happy Court (of the Fairies).

[119]gowany = daisied.

IHer mother died when she was young,Which gave her cause to make great moan;Her father married the warst womanThat ever lived in Christendom.IIShe servèd her wi’ foot and handIn everything that she could dee[120],Till once, in an unlucky timeShe threw her owre a craig[121]o’ the sea.IIISays, ‘Lie you there, dove Isabel,And all my sorrows lie wi’ thee!Till Kemp[122]Owyne come to the craig,And borrow[123]you wi’ kisses three.’IVHer breath grew strang, her hair grew langAnd twisted thrice about the tree,And all the people, far and near,Thought that a savage beast was she.VAnd aye she cried for Kemp OwyneGin that he would but com’ to her hand:—Now word has gane to Kemp OwyneThat siccan[124]a beast was in his land.VI‘Now by my sooth,’ says Kemp Owyne,‘This fiery beast I’ll gang to see’;‘And by my sooth,’ says Segramour,‘My ae brother, I’ll gang you wi’.’VIIO they have biggit[125]a bonny boat,And they have set her to the sea;But a mile before they reach’d the shoreI wot she gar’d[126]the red fire flee.VIII‘O brother, keep my boat afloat,An’ lat her na the land so near!For the wicked beast she’ll sure go mad,An’ set fire to the land an’ mair.’IXSyne he has bent an arblast bowAnd aim’d an arrow at her head,And swore, if she didna quit the land,Wi’ that same shaft to shoot her dead.X‘O out o’ my stythe[127]I winna rise—And it is na for the fear o’ thee—Till Kemp Owyne, the kingis son,Come to the craig an’ thrice kiss me.’XIHer breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted thrice about the tree,And with a swing she came about:‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!XII‘Here is a royal belt,’ she cried,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your body it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my belt your death shall be.’XIIIHe’s louted[128]him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,The royal belt he brought him wi’.XIVHer breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted twice about the tree,As awa’ she gid[129], and again she swang—‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!XV‘Here is a royal ring,’ she said,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your finger it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my ring your death shall be.’XVIHe’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,The royal ring he brought him wi’.XVIIHer breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted ance about the tree,As awa’ she gid and again she swang—‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!XVIII‘Here is a royal brand,’ she said,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your body it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my brand your death shall be.’XIXHe’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kissThat royal brand he brought him wi’.XXHer breath was sweet, her hair grew short,And twisted nane about the tree,As awa’ she gid and again she cameThe fairest lady that ever could be.XXI‘O was it a wer-wolf into[130]the wood,Or was it a mermaid into the sea,Or was it a man or a vile woman,My true love, that mis-shapit thee?’—XXII‘It was na wer-wolf into the wood,Nor was it mermaid into the sea,But and it was my vile stepmother,And wae and weary mote she be!XXIII‘O a heavier weird shall light her on,Her hair sall grow rough an’ her teeth grow lang,And [aye] on her four feet sall she gang,And aye in Wormeswood sall she won[131]!’

Her mother died when she was young,Which gave her cause to make great moan;Her father married the warst womanThat ever lived in Christendom.

She servèd her wi’ foot and handIn everything that she could dee[120],Till once, in an unlucky timeShe threw her owre a craig[121]o’ the sea.

Says, ‘Lie you there, dove Isabel,And all my sorrows lie wi’ thee!Till Kemp[122]Owyne come to the craig,And borrow[123]you wi’ kisses three.’

Her breath grew strang, her hair grew langAnd twisted thrice about the tree,And all the people, far and near,Thought that a savage beast was she.

And aye she cried for Kemp OwyneGin that he would but com’ to her hand:—Now word has gane to Kemp OwyneThat siccan[124]a beast was in his land.

‘Now by my sooth,’ says Kemp Owyne,‘This fiery beast I’ll gang to see’;‘And by my sooth,’ says Segramour,‘My ae brother, I’ll gang you wi’.’

O they have biggit[125]a bonny boat,And they have set her to the sea;But a mile before they reach’d the shoreI wot she gar’d[126]the red fire flee.

‘O brother, keep my boat afloat,An’ lat her na the land so near!For the wicked beast she’ll sure go mad,An’ set fire to the land an’ mair.’

Syne he has bent an arblast bowAnd aim’d an arrow at her head,And swore, if she didna quit the land,Wi’ that same shaft to shoot her dead.

‘O out o’ my stythe[127]I winna rise—And it is na for the fear o’ thee—Till Kemp Owyne, the kingis son,Come to the craig an’ thrice kiss me.’

Her breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted thrice about the tree,And with a swing she came about:‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

‘Here is a royal belt,’ she cried,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your body it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my belt your death shall be.’

He’s louted[128]him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,The royal belt he brought him wi’.

Her breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted twice about the tree,As awa’ she gid[129], and again she swang—‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

‘Here is a royal ring,’ she said,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your finger it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my ring your death shall be.’

He’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kiss,The royal ring he brought him wi’.

Her breath was strang, her hair was langAnd twisted ance about the tree,As awa’ she gid and again she swang—‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me!

‘Here is a royal brand,’ she said,‘That I have found in the green sea;And while your body it is on,Drawn shall your blood never be;But if you touch me, tail or fin,I swear my brand your death shall be.’

He’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig,As out she swang and about the tree;He steppèd in, gave her a kissThat royal brand he brought him wi’.

Her breath was sweet, her hair grew short,And twisted nane about the tree,As awa’ she gid and again she cameThe fairest lady that ever could be.

‘O was it a wer-wolf into[130]the wood,Or was it a mermaid into the sea,Or was it a man or a vile woman,My true love, that mis-shapit thee?’—

‘It was na wer-wolf into the wood,Nor was it mermaid into the sea,But and it was my vile stepmother,And wae and weary mote she be!

‘O a heavier weird shall light her on,Her hair sall grow rough an’ her teeth grow lang,And [aye] on her four feet sall she gang,And aye in Wormeswood sall she won[131]!’

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