"Oh! Is it a sheep or a witch," quoth he;
"Is it only a loaghtan beg?
Or am I awake or asleep," quoth he,
"Or am I the hairy Phynodderee
That started to catch the meg."
"I chased her over Barooil," quoth he,
"And along the side of Clagh Owre;
And three times round Snaefell, like fire went she,
With a screech at the hairy Phynodderee
That turned the night's milk sour."
"I have raced the mountain lambs," quoth he,
"And seen them run like deer;
But I never seen wan like yondher," quoth he,
"That could run like the hairy Phynodderee,
She'll not be no right wan I fear."
"I've seen many a sheep in my day," quoth he,
"From the Calf to the Point of Ayre;
But never a wan like that," quoth he,
"Which nearly done the Phynodderee"—
"Man veg! you have brought me a hare!"
SWEET ETTY OF RHENWEE
O gaily sing the birds among
The woods of Ballaharry,
And brightly shines the gorse along
The lanes of Ballavarry;
But I must go and leave them all
To sail upon the sea,
Unless you say one little word,
Sweet Etty of Rhenwee.
My father he will go his ways
And never heed or bother,
But Oh! My heart is failing when
I think upon the mother.
But I must leave them all and go
To sail upon the sea,
Until you say that little word,
Sweet Etty of Rhenwee.
We played together, boy and girl,
Among the gorse and heather,
And mine it was, in storm and shine,
To shield you from the weather.
But I must go away for all
To sail upon the sea,
Unless you say that little word,
Sweet Etty of Rhenwee.
O golden shines the gorse along
The lanes of Ballavarry,
And sweetly sing the birds among
The woods of Ballaharry.
But never came the Eirey home
That sailed upon the sea,
For never could she say that word,
Sweet Etty of Rhenwee.