7. She lift up his bloudy head,
And kist his wounds that were so red.
8. She got him up upon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake[93].
9. She buried him before the prime,
She was dead herselfe ere even-song time.
10. God send every gentleman
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a leman[94].
[85] Founded on an actual event of the plague, near Perth, in 1645. See the interesting account in Professor Child's 'Ballads,' Part VII, p. 75f.
[86] Built.
[87] A hill sloping down to a brook.
[88] Thatched.
[90] The counterpart, or perhaps parody, of this ballad, called 'The Twa Corbies,' is better known than the exquisite original.
[91] The refrain, or burden, differs in another version of the ballad.
[92] Guard.
[93] Shroud of earth, burial.
[94] Sweetheart, darling, literally 'dear-one' (liefman). The word had originally no offensive meaning.
[85] Founded on an actual event of the plague, near Perth, in 1645. See the interesting account in Professor Child's 'Ballads,' Part VII, p. 75f.