THE FALSE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD

"O whare are ye gaun?"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"I'm gaun to the scule."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"What is that upon your back?"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"Atweel [148] it is my bukes."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"What's that ye've got in your arm?"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"Atweel it is my peit."[149]

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"Wha's aucht [150] they sheep?"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"They're mine and my mither's."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"How monie o' them are mine?"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"A' they that hae blue tails."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"I wiss ye were on yon tree:"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"And a gude ladder under me."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"And the ladder for to break:"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"And you for to fa' down."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"I wiss ye were in yon sie:"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"And a gude bottom [151] under me."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.

"And the bottom for to break:"

Quo' the fause knicht upon the road:

"And ye to be drowned."

Quo' the wee boy, and still he stude.