O then bespake her dochter dear-- She was baith jimp[481] and sma’: ‘O row[482] me in a pair o’ sheets, And tow me owre the wa’!’ XXII They row’d her in a pair o’ sheets, And tow’d her owre the wa’; But on the point o’ Gordon’s spear She gat a deadly fa’. XXIII O bonnie, bonnie was her mouth, And cherry were her cheiks, And clear, clear was her yellow hair, Whereon the red blood dreips. XXIV Then wi’ his spear he turn’d her owre; O gin her face was wane! He said, ‘Ye are the first that e’er I wish’d alive again.’ XXV He turn’d her owre and owre again; O gin her skin was white! ‘I might hae spared that bonnie face To hae been some man’s delight. XXVI ‘Busk and boun[483], my merry men a’, For ill dooms I do guess; I canna look in that bonnie face As it lies on the grass.’-- XXVII ‘Wha looks to freits[484], my master dear, It’s freits will follow them; Let it ne’er be said that Edom o’ Gordon Was daunted by a dame.’ XXVIII But when the lady saw the fire Come flaming owre her head, She wept, and kiss’d her children twain, Says, ‘Bairns, we been but dead.’ XXIX The Gordon then his bugle blew, And said, ‘Awa’, awa’! This house o’ the Rodes is a’ in a flame; I hauld it time to ga’.’ XXX And this way lookit her ain dear lord, As he cam owre the lea; He saw his castle a’ in a lowe[485], As far as he could see. XXXI Then sair, O sair, his mind misgave, And all his heart was wae: ‘Put on, put on, my wighty[486] men, Sae fast as ye can gae. XXXII ‘Put on, put on, my wighty men, Sae fast as ye can drie! For he that’s hindmost o’ the thrang Sall ne’er get good o’ me.’ XXXIII Then some they rade, and some they ran, Out-owre the grass and bent; But ere the foremost could win up, Baith lady and babes were brent. XXXIV And after the Gordon he is gane, Sae fast as he might drie; And soon i’ the Gordon’s foul heart’s blude He’s wroken[487] his dear ladye. FOOTNOTES: [475] hauld = place of shelter. [476] town = stead. [477] buskit = attired. [478] dree = suffer. [479] wud = mad. [480] grund-wa’ = ground-wall. [481] jimp = slender, trim. [482] row = wrap. [483] Busk and boun = trim up and prepare to go. [484] freits = ill omen. [485] lowe = flame. [486] wighty = sturdy, active. [487] wroken = avenged. _78. Lamkin_ I It’s Lamkin was a mason good As ever built wi’ stane; He built Lord Wearie’s castle, But payment got he nane. II ‘O pay me, Lord Wearie, Come, pay to me my fee.’-- ‘I canna pay you, Lamkin, For I maun gang o’er the sea.’-- III