‘I’ll gie thee ten punds for the gude horse,
Weil tauld on thy cloak lap they shall be;
And I’ll gie thee ane o’ the best milk kye,
To maintain thy wife and children three.’—
LVIII
‘The shame speed the liars, my lord!’ quo’ Dickie;
‘Trow ye aye to make a fule o’ me!
I’ll either hae twenty punds for the gude horse,
Or he’s gae to Mortan Fair wi’ me.’—
LIX
He’s gi’en him twenty punds for the gude horse,
Baith in goud and gude monie;
He’s gi’en him ane o’ his milk kye,
To maintain his wife and children three.
LX
Then Dickie lap a loup[1256] fu’ hie,
And I wat a loud laugh laughèd he:
‘I wish the neck o’ the third horse was broken,
If ony of the twa were better than he!’
LXI
Then Dickie’s come hame to his wife again;
Judge ye how the puir fule had sped!
He has gi’en her twa score English punds,
For the three auld co’erlets ta’en aff her bed.