"But fingers five, come here, [come here,]35
And [faint heart] fail me nought!
And silver strings, value me sma' things,
Till I get all this vengeance rowght!"
He ha shot a' the fifteen foresters,
Left never a one but one;40
And he broke the ribs a that anes side,
And let him take tiding home.
They have ridden oer muir and muss,
And over mountains high,
Till they met wi 'an' old palmer,45
Was walking along the way.
"What news, what news, old palmer,
What news have you to me?"
"Yonder is one of the proudest wed sons
That ever my eyes did see.50
* * * * *
"* * a bird in a' the wood
Could sing as I could say;
It would go in to my mothers [bower],
And bid her kiss me, and take me away."
[29]. word.
[36]. faint hearted.
[53]. bows.