But first he gaed to his gude wyfe,
Wi’ a’ the haste that he could thole[1257]—
‘This wark,’ quo’ he, ‘will ne’er gae weel,
Without a mare that has a foal.’—
III
Quo’ she, ‘Thou hast a gude gray mare,
That’ll rin o’er hills baith laigh[1258] and hie;
Sae set thee on the gray mare’s back,
And leave the foal at hame wi’ me.’
IV
So he is up to England gane,
And even as fast as he can hie;
And when he cam to Carlisle gate,
O whae was there but the King Henrye?
V
‘Come into my hall, thou silly blind Harper,
And of thy harping let me hear!’—
‘O, by my sooth,’ quo’ the silly blind Harper,
‘I’d rather hae stabling for my mare.’
VI
The King look’d ower his left shoulder,
And said unto his stable groom;
‘Gae take the silly blind Harper’s mare,
And tie her beside my Wanton Brown.’