I

O Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They biggit[1308] a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit[1309] it o’er wi’ rashes.

II

They theekit it o’er wi’ rashes green,
They theekit it o’er wi’ heather;
But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
And slew them baith thegither.

III

They thought to lye in Methven kirkyard,
Amang their noble kin;
But they maun lye in Stronach haugh[1310],
To biek[1311] forenent the sin[1312].

IV

And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.

FOOTNOTES:

[1308] biggit = built.