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BURD HELEN.

135

BURD HELEN.

I WISH I were where Helen lies;
Night and day on me she cries;
O that I were where Helen lies
On fair Kirconnell lea!

Curst be the heart that thought the thought,
And curst the hand that fired the shot,
When in my arms burd Helen dropt,
And died to succour me!

O think na but my heart was sair

When my Love dropt down and spak nae mair!
I laid her down wi' meikle care
On fair Kirconnell lea.

As I went down the water-side,
None but my foe to be my guide,
None but my foe to be my guide,
On fair Kirconnell lea;

I lighted down my sword to draw,
I hacked him in pieces sma',
I hacked him in pieces sma',

For her sake that died for me.

O Helen fair, beyond compare!
I'll make a garland of thy hair,
Shall bind my heart for evermair,
Until the day I die.

136

BURD HELEN.

O that I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
Out of my bed she bids me rise,
Says, "Haste, and come to me!"

O Helen fair! O Helen chaste!
If I were with thee, I were blest,
Where thou lies low, and takes thy rest,
On fair Kirconnell Lee.

I wish my grave were growing green,
A winding sheet drawn ouer my een,
And I in Helen's arms lying,

On fair Kirconnell Lee.

I wish I were where Helen lies!
Night and day on me she cries;
And I am weary of the skies,

For her sake that died for me.

Anonymous.

EDWARD OF THE BLOODY BRAND.

137

EDWARD OF THE BLOODY BRAND.

"WHY does your brand so drop with blood?
Edward! Edward!

Why does your brand so drop with blood,
And why so sad go ye, O?" ·

"O! I have killed my hawk so good,
Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my hawk so good,
And I have no more but he, O!"

"Your hawk's blood was never so red,
Edward! Edward!

Your hawk's blood was never so red,
My dear son, I tell thee, O!"

"O! I have killed my red roan steed,
Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my red roan steed,
That once was fair and free, O!"

"Your steed was old and ye have got more,
Edward! Edward!

Your steed was old and ye have got more,
Some other dule you drie, O!"

138

EDWARD OF THE BLOODY BRAND.

"O! I have killed my father dear,

Mother! Mother!

O! I have killed my father dear,
Alas, and woe is me, O!"

"And what penance will ye drie for that?
Edward! Edward!

And what penance will ye drie for that?
My dear son, now tell me, O!"

"I'll set my feet in yonder boat,

Mother! Mother!

I'll set my feet in yonder boat,
And I'll fare over the sea, O!"

"And what will you do with your towers and your hall? Edward! Edward!

And what will you do with your towers and your hall, That were so fair to see, O?"

"I'll let them stand till they down fall,

Mother! Mother!

I'll let them stand till they down fall,

For here never more must I be, O!”

"And what will you leave to your bairns and your wife? Edward! Edward!

And what will you leave to your bairns and your wife, When you go over the sea, O?”

"The world's room, let them beg through life,

Mother! Mother!

The world's room, let them beg through life,
For them never more will I see, O!"

A SONG OF INDIFFERENCE.

"And what will you leave to your own mother dear?
Edward! Edward!

And what will you leave to your own mother dear?
My dear son, now tell me, O!"

"The curse of hell from me shall you bear,
Mother! Mother!

The curse of hell from me shall you bear,
Such counsels you gave to me, O!"

Sir David Dalrymple (Lord Hailes).

A SONG OF INDIFFERENCE.

BLOW, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;

Thy tooth is not so keen

Because thou art not seen,

Although thy breath be rude.

Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho! the holly!
This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,

Thou dost not bite so nigh
As benefits forgot:

Though thou the waters warp,

Thy sting is not so sharp

As friend remember'd not.

Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh ho! the holly!

This life is most jolly.

W. Shakespeare.

139

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