IX.
As they fared up o’er Lammermoor,
They burned baith up and doun,
Until they came to a darksome house,
Some call it Leader Town.
X.
“Wha hauds this house?” young Edward cried,
“Or wha gi’est ower to me?”
A grey-hair’d knight set up his head,
And crackit right crousely:
XI.
“Of Scotland’s king I haud my house,
He pays me meat and fee;
And I will keep my guid auld house,
While my house will keep me.”
I cannot, I admit, find any fault with these stanzas: cannot see any reason why they should not be traditional.
Then Colonel Elliot cites, as the worst—
XV.
Then fifteen barks, all gaily good,
Met them upon a day,
Which they did lade with as much spoil
As they could take away.