And eke the poor blind Harper's mare!

"Allace! allace!" quo' the cunning auld Harper,

"And ever allace that I cam here!

In Scotland I lost a braw cowt foal,

In England they've stown my gude gray mare!"

"Come! cease thy allacing, thou silly blind Harper,

And again of thy harping let us hear;

And weel payd sall thy cowt-foal be,

And thou sall have a far better mare."

Then aye he harped, and aye he carped;