O they rade on, and farther on, The steed gaed swifter than the wind : And living land was left behind. 'Light down, light down now, true Thomas, Abide and rest a little space, ferlies three. And I will show you 'O see ye not yon narrow road, So thick beset wi' thorns and briers ? Tho' after it but few enquires. And see ye not that braid braid road, That is the Path of Wickedness, Tho' some call it the Road to Heaven. That winds about the fernie brae ? That is the Road to fair Elfland, Where thou and I this night maun gae. 'But, Thomas, ye sall haud your tongue, Whatever ye may hear or see: For if ye speak word in Elflyn-land, Ye 'll ne'er get back to your ain countrie.' O they rade on, and farther on, And they waded thro' rivers abune the knee : And they saw neither sun nor mune, But they heard the roaring of the sea. lily leven] flowery lawn. brae] hillside. abune] above. It was mirk mirk night, there was nae sternlight, They waded thro' red blude to the knee : For a' the blude that 's shed on earth Rins thro' the springs o' that countrie. Syne they came to a garden green, And she pu'd an apple frae a tree : 'Take this for thy wages, true Thomas; It will give the tongue that can never lee.'— 'My tongue is mine ain (true Thomas said) : I neither dought to buy nor sell 'I dought neither speak to prince or peer, Now hold thy peace, Thomas (she said), He has gotten a coat of the even cloth 56* The The Wife of Usher's Well THERE lived a wife at Usher's well, And a wealthy wife was she; She had three stout and stalwart sons, And sent them o'er the sea. mirk] dark. dought] could. even] smooth. They hadna been a week from her, When word came to the carline wife They hadna been a week from her, When word came to the carline wife 'I wish the wind may never cease, Till my three sons come hame to me In earthly flesh and blood!' It fell about the Martinmas, When nights are lang and mirk, It neither grew in syke nor ditch, But at the gates o' Paradise Blow up the fire, my maidens ! For a' my house shall feast this night, Since my And she has made to them a bed, She's made it large and wide; And she 's ta'en her mantle her about, Sat down at the bedside. carline] stout old woman. birk] birch. fashes] troubles. Martinmas]*. sheugh] trench. Up then crew the red, red cock, 'Tis time we were away.' The cock he hadna craw'd but once, When the youngest to the eldest said, Brother, we must awa'. The cock doth craw, the day doth daw, The channerin' worm doth chide ; A sair pain we maun bide.' 'Lie still, lie still but a little wee while, Lie still but if we may ; Gin my mother should miss us when she wakes, C 'Fare ye weel, my mother dear!L Fareweel to barn and byre! And fare ye weel, the bonny lass 57 Helen of Kirconnell I WISH I were where Helen lies, Curst be the heart that thought the thought, When in my arms burd Helen dropt, And died to succour me! channering] fretting. gin] if. byre] cowhouse. burd] maiden, lady. O think na ye my heart was sair, On fair Kirconnell lea. As I went down the waterside I lighted down, my sword did draw, O Helen fair beyond compare! O that I were where Helen lies! Says, 'Haste and come to me.' O Helen fair! O Helen chaste! I wish my grave were growing green, On fair Kirconnell lea. I wish I were where Helen lies! For her sake that died for me. meikle] much, also mickle, muckle. |