Curst be the heart that thought the thought, And curst the hand that shot the shot, When in my arms burd Helen dropt, And died to succour me. O think ye not my heart was sair, When my love dropt and spak nae mair! There did she swoon wi’ meikle care, On fair Kirkconnell Lee. 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 Kirkconnell Lee! 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. 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 Kirkconnell Lee. O that my grave were growing green, A winding sheet drawn ower my een, And I in Helen’s arms were lying, On fair Kirkconnell 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. *Chapter XVI* *Johnie of Breadislee* Johnie of Breadislee, outlaw and deer-stealer, was one of the "broken men," as they were called, the Ishmaels of the Border. Johnie rose up one May morning, and called for water to wash his hands. He ordered to be unleashed his good grey dogs, that were bound with iron chains. When his mother heard that he had called for the dogs, she wrung her hands. "O Johnie!" she cried, "for my blessing, do not go to the greenwood to-day. Ye have enough of good wheat bread, enough blood-red wine, therefore, Johnie, I pray, stir not from home for any venison." But despite his mother’s tears, Johnie busked up his good bent bow, and his arrows, and went off to Durrisdeer to hunt down the dun deer. As he came by Merriemass he espied a deer lying beneath a bush of furze. Johnie let fly an arrow, and the deer leapt as the pitiless shaft found its mark, and between the water and the brae his good hounds "laid her pride." So Johnie cut up the venison, giving the liver and lungs to his faithful hounds, as if they had been earl’s sons. With such zest did they eat and drink that Johnie and the dogs fell asleep, as if they had been dead. Then as they lay, there came by a silly old man, and, as soon as he saw the poachers, he ran away to Hislinton, where the Seven Foresters were. "What news?" they asked. "What news bring ye, ye grey-headed carle?" "I bring no news," said the grey-headed carle, "save what my eyes did see. As I came down by Merrimass among the stunted trees, the bonniest child I ever saw lay asleep among his dogs.