Buccleuch has turn’d to Eden Water,
Even where it flow’d frae bank to brim,
And he has plunged in wi’ a’ his band,
And safely swam them through the stream.
XLIV
He turn’d him on the other side,
And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he;
‘If ye like na my visit in merry England,
In fair Scotland come visit me!’
XLV
All sore astonish’d stood Lord Scroope,
He stood as still as rock of stane;
He scarcely dared to trew[1184] his eyes,
When through the water they had gane.
XLVI
‘He is either himsell a devil frae hell,
Or else his mother a witch maun be;
I wadna have ridden that wan water
For a’ the gowd in Christentie.’
FOOTNOTES:
[1167] Liddel-rack = a ford on the Liddel.
[1168] lawing = reckoning.