The neistan step that she stept in, She waded to the knee; Says she, ‘I cou’d wade farther in, If I my love cou’d see.’ XXXII The neistan step that she wade in, She waded to the chin; The deepest pot in Clyde’s water She got sweet Willie in. XXXIII ‘Ye’ve had a cruel mither, Willie! And I have had anither; But we sall sleep in Clyde’s water Like sister an’ like brither.’ FOOTNOTES: [555] malison = curse. [556] dowie = dismal, gloomy. [557] fley’d = frightened. [558] sowm = swim. [559] queet = ankle. _91. Young Benjie_ I Of a’ the maids o’ fair Scotland, The fairest was Marjorie; And young Benjie was her ae true love, And a dear true-love was he. II And wow! but they were lovers dear, And loved fu’ constantlie; But ay the mair when they fell out, The sairer was their plea[560]. III And they hae quarrell’d on a day, Till Marjorie’s heart grew wae, And she said she’d chuse another luve, And let young Benjie gae. IV And he was stout, and proud-heartèd, And thought o’t bitterlie, And he’s gaen by the wan moon-light, To meet his Marjorie. V ‘O open, open, my true love! O open, and let me in!’-- ‘I dare na open, young Benjie, My three brothers are within.’-- VI ‘Ye lied, ye lied, my bonny burd, Sae loud’s I hear ye lie; As I came by the Lowden banks, They bade gude e’en to me. VII ‘But fare ye weel, my ae fause love, That I hae loved sae lang! It sets[561] ye chuse another love, And let young Benjie gang.’ VIII Then Marjorie turned her round about, The tear blinding her e’e, ‘I darena, darena let thee in, But I’ll come down to thee.’ IX Then saft she smiled, and said to him, ‘O what ill hae I done?’ He took her in his armis twa, And threw her o’er the linn[562]. X The stream was strang, the maid was stout, And laith laith to be dang[563]; But, ere she wan the Lowden banks, Her fair colour was wan. XI Then up bespak her eldest brother, ‘O see na ye what I see?’ And out then spak her second brother, ‘It’s our sister Marjorie!’ XII Out then spak her eldest brother, ‘O how shall we her ken?’ And out then spak her youngest brother, ‘There’s a honey mark on her chin.’ XIII Then they’ve ta’en up the comely corpse, And laid it on the grund: ‘O wha has killed our ae sister, And how can he be found? XIV ‘The night it is her low lykewake[564], The morn her burial day, And we maun watch at mirk midnight, And hear what she will say.’ XV Wi’ doors ajar, and candle-light, And torches burning clear, The streikit[565] corpse, till still midnight, They waked, but naething hear. XVI