Then up and gat her seven sisters,
And sewed to her a kell,[#]
And every steek[#] that they put in
Sewed to a siller bell.
[#] shroud.
[#] stitch.
The first Scots kirk that they cam to,
They garred the bells be rung;
The next Scots kirk that they cam to,
They garred fhe mass be sung.
But when they cam to St Mary's Kirk,
There stude spearmen all on a row;
And up and started Lord William,
The chieftaine amang them a'.
"Set down, set down the bier," he said,
"Let me look her upon;"
But as soon as Lord William touched her hand,
Her colour began to come.
She brightened like the lily flower,
Till her pale colour was gone;
With rosy cheek, and ruby lip,
She smiled her love upon.
"A morsel of your bread, my lord,
And one glass of your wine;
For I have fasted these three lang days,
All for your sake and mine.
Gae hame, gae hame, my seven bauld brothers,
Gae hame and blaw your horn!
I trow[#] ye wad hae gi'en me the skaith,[#]
But I've gi'en you the scorn.
[#] reckon.
[#] harm.
Commend me to my grey father,
That wished my soul gude rest;
But wae be to my cruel step-dame,
Garred burn me on the breast."
"Ah! woe to you, you light woman!
And ill death may ye die!
For we left father and sisters at hame,
Breaking their hearts for thee."
Chapter X
The Corbies
Two ancient songs have come down to us in which the principal speakers are supposed to be Corbies, carrion-crows or ravens, birds which feed on the flesh of the dead. In both songs the birds discuss a dead knight upon whose rich body they wish to feed. But deep interest lies in the fact that the two song-writers present entirely different views of the case. One appeals to our feelings with a beautiful and touching picture of devotion, the knight's companions proving true to him in death. The other is far more grim, and causes us to shudder at the utter loneliness of the dead man, deserted by all those who in life were beholden to his friendship. Both are powerful and striking examples of ancient vigour and directness.
THE TWA CORBIES
As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;[#]
The tane unto the t'other say,
"Where sall we gang and dine to-day?"—