"[But I hae nae harness, billie, on my back],
As weel I see there is on thine."
—
"But as little harness as is on thy back,
As little, billie, shall be on mine."—110
Then he's thrown aff his coat o' mail,
His cap of steel away flung he;
He stuck his spear into the ground,
And he tied his horse unto a tree.
Then Bewick has thrown aff his cloak,115
And's psalter-book frae's hand flung he;
He laid his hand upon the dyke,
And ower he lap most manfullie.
O they hae fought for twae lang hours;
When twae lang hours were come and gane,120
The sweat drapp'd fast frae aff them baith,
But a drap of blude could not be seen.
Till Græme gae Bewick an ackward stroke,
Ane ackward stroke strucken sickerlie;
He has hit him under the left breast,125
And dead-wounded to the ground fell he.
"Rise up, rise up, now, billie dear,
Arise and speak three words to me!
Whether thou's gotten thy deadly wound,
Or if God and good leeching may succour thee?"
"O horse, O horse, now, billie Græme,131
And get thee far from hence with speed;
And get thee out of this country,
That none may know who has done the deed."—
"O I have slain thee, billie Bewick,135
If this be true thou tellest to me;
But I made a vow, ere I came frae hame,
That aye the next man I wad be."