[76]. Unwashen hands and unwashen feet.—Alluding to the custom of washing and dressing dead bodies. S.
[REEDISDALE AND WISE WILLIAM.]
Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 298, and Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 70: from recitation.
When Reedisdale and Wise William
Was drinking at the wine,
There fell a roosing them amang,
On one unruly time.
For some of them has roosed their hawks, 5
And other some their hounds;
And other some their ladies fair,
And their bow'rs whare they walk'd in.
When out it spak him Reedisdale,
And a rash word spake he: 10
Says, "There is not a lady fair,
In bower wherever she be,
But I could aye her favour win,
With one blink of my e'e."
Then out it spak him Wise William, 15
And a rash word spak he:
Says, "I have a sister of my own,
In bower wherever she be,
And ye will not her favour win,
With three blinks of your e'e." 20
"What will you wager, Wise William?
My lands I'll wad with thee:"
"I'll wad my head against your land,
Till I get more monie."
Then Reedisdale took Wise William, 25
Laid him in prison strang;
That he might neither gang nor ride,
Nor no word to her send.