‘O wha’s blood is this,’ he says,
‘That lies in the cham’er[494]?’—
‘It is your lady’s heart’s blood;
’Tis as clear as the lamer[495].’—
XXVI
‘And wha’s blood is this,’ he says,
‘That lies in my ha’?’—
‘It is your young son’s heart’s blood;
’Tis the clearest ava’[496].’
XXVII
O sweetly sang the black-bird
That sat upon the tree;
But sairer grat Lamkin,
When he was condemn’d to dee.
XXVIII
And bonny sang the mavis
Out o’ the thorny brake;
But sairer grat the nourice,
When she was tied to the stake.
FOOTNOTES:
[488] limmer = wretch, jade.
[489] shot-window = a window opening on a hinge.