But when they came to Cholerford,

There they met with an auld man;

Says, Honest man, will the water ride?

Tell us in haste, if that ye can.

28

‘I wat weel no,’ quo the good auld man;

‘Here I hae livd this threty yeirs and three,

And I neer yet saw the Tyne sae big,

Nor rinning ance sae like a sea.’

29 Then up and spake the Laird’s saft Wat,