Up and spak an eldern knight, The king has written a braid1 letter, The first line that Sir Patrick read, The next line that Sir Patrick read, The tear blinded his ee. "O wha is this has done this deed, This ill deed done to me, To send me out this time o' the year, To sail upon the sea! "Mak haste, mak haste, my merry men all, Our guid ship sails the morn:" "O say na sae, my master dear, For I fear a deadlie storm. "Late late yestreen I saw the new moon, Wi the auld moon in her arm, And I fear, I fear, my dear master, That we will come to harm." O our Scots nobles were right loth, O lang, lang may the ladies sit, O lang, lang may the ladies stand, For they'll see them na mair. Half o'er, half o'er to Aberdour, Its fifty fathom deep, And there lies guid Sir Patrick Spens, Wi' the Scots lords at his feet. THE TWA CORBIES1 As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies making a mane:2 The tane unto the tither did say, "Whar sall we gang and dine the day?" 5 10 15 20 25 25 30 30 35 35 40 And to the bliss us bring! Thus was the hunting of the Cheviot: God send us all good ending! SIR PATRICK SPENS The king sits in Dumferling town, 45 Borders. 47 Keep. 48 Fought. $1 Better our ills. If I had need (as God forbede!) What socours could ye find? Forsooth I trow, you and your bow For fear would draw behind. And no mervail; for little avail Were in your counsel than: 150 Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go, 155 SHE. Right well know ye that women be No womanhede it is, indeed, To be bold as a knight; I would withstand, with bow in hand, I love but you alone. 160 165 230 If that ye went, ye should repent; For in the forest now 290 235 I dare it well avow; 294 And of you both each would be wroth With other, as I trow: 240 For, right as ye have said to me, ⚫ 245 In likewise hardily Ye would answere whosoever it were, In way of company: It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold; And so is a womán: 250 Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man. SHE. If ye take heed, it is no need Such words to say to me; For oft ye prayed, and long assayed, HE. It were mine ease to live in peace; Wherefore I to the wood will go, SUE. Though in the wood I understood HE. 254 300 All this may nought remove my thought, And she shall find me soft and kind 305 For, in my mind, of all mankind Mine own dear love, I see the proves Of maid, of wife, in all my life Be merry and glad; be no more sad; For it were ruth that for your truth I will not to the green-wood go; SHE. These tidings be more glad to me If I were sure they should endure; 310 315 320 325 Or I loved you, pardé: And though that I of ancestry A baron's daughter be, • Proof. |