Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

"Gin my seven sons were seven young hares,

[ocr errors]

Running o'er yon lilly lee,

"And I were a grew hound mysell!

"Soon worried they a' should be."

And wae and sad fair Annie sat,
And drearie was her sang;

And ever, as she sobb'd and grat,

[ocr errors]

"Wae to the man that did the wrang!"

My gown is on," said the new-come bride,

[ocr errors]

My shoes are on my feet,

"And I will to fair Annie's chamber,

"And see what gars her greet.

"What ails ye, what ails ye, Fair Annie,

"That ye make sic a moan?

"Has your wine barrels cast the girds, "Or is your white bread gone?

"O wha was't was your father, Annie, "Or wha was't was your mother?

"And had ye ony sister, Annie,

"Or had ye ony brother?"

"The Earl of Wemyss was my father,

"The Countess of Wemyss my mother;

"And a' the folk about the house,

"To me were sister and brother."

"If the Earl of Wemyss was your father, "I wot sae was he mine;

"And it shall not be for lack o' gowd,

"That ye your love sall tyne.

"For I have seven ships o' mine ain, "A' loaded to the brim;

"And I will gie them a' to thee,

"Wi' four to thine eldest son.

"But thanks to a' the powers in heaven, "That I gae maiden hame!"

THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL.

A FRAGMENT.

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

THERE lived a wife at Usher's Well,
And a wealthy wife was she;
She had three stout and stalwart sons,
And sent them o'er the sea.

They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely ane,

Whan word came to the carline wife,

That her three sons were gane.

They hadna been a week from her,
A week but barely three,

Whan word came to the carline wife,
That her sons she'd never see.

"I wish the wind may never cease, "Nor fishes in the flood,

« Till

my

three sons come hame to me,

"In earthly flesh and blood!"

It fell about the Martinmass,

Whan nights are lang and mirk, The carline wife's three sons came hame, And their hats were o' the birk.

It neither grew in syke nor ditch,
Nor yet in ony sheugh;
But at the gates o' Paradise,

That birk grew fair enough.

"Blow up the fire, my maidens! "Bring water from the well!

"For a' my house shall feast this night, Since my three sons are well."

And she has made to them a bed,
She's made it large and wide;
And she's ta'en her mantle her about,
Sat down at the bed-side.

Up then crew the red red cock,

And

up and crew the gray; The eldest to the youngest said,

""Tis time we were away.”

The cock he hadna craw'd but once,
And clapp'd his wings at a',
Whan the youngest to the eldest said,
66 Brother, we must awa.

« AnteriorContinuar »