We'll leave off talking of Christie Græme,
And talk of him again belive;
And we will talk of bonny Bewick,
Where he was teaching his scholars five.
When he had taught them well to fence,75
And handle swords without any doubt,
He took his sword under his arm,
And he walk'd his father's close about.
He look'd atween him and the sun,
And a' to see what there might be,80
Till he spied a man in armour bright,
Was riding that way most hastilie.
"O wha is yon, that came this way,
Sae hastilie that hither came?
I think it be my brother dear,85
I think it be young Christie Græme.
"Ye're welcome here, my billie dear,
And thrice ye're welcome unto me!"—
"But I'm wae to say, I've seen the day,
When I am come to fight wi' thee.90
"My father's gane to Carlisle town,
Wi' your father Bewick there met he:
He says I'm a lad, and I am but bad,
And a baffled man I trow I be.
"He sent me to schools, and I wadna learn;95
He gae me books, and I wadna read;
Sae my father's blessing I'll never earn,
Till he see how my arm can guard my head."
"O God forbid, my billie dear,
That ever such a thing suld be!100
We'll take three men on either side,
And see if we can our fathers agree."
"O hald thy tongue, now, billie Bewick,
And of thy talking let me be!
But if thou'rt a man, as I'm sure thou art,105
Come o'er the dyke, and fight wi' me."