‘Though I hae slain the Lord Johnstone, What care I for their feid? My noble mind does still incline-- He was my father’s deid[1286]. IV ‘Both night and day I labour’d oft Of him avenged to be; But now I’ve got what lang I sought And I may not stay with thee. V ‘Adieu! Drumlanrig, false wert aye, And Closeburn in a band! The Laird of Lag, frae my father that fled, When the Johnstone struck aff his hand. VI ‘They were three brethren in a band-- Joy may they never see! Their treacherous art, and cowardly heart, Has twined[1287] my love and me. VII ‘Adieu! Dumfries, my proper place, But and Carlaverock fair! Adieu! my castle of the Thrieve, Wi’ a’ my buildings there! VIII ‘Adieu! Lochmaben’s gate sae fair, And Langholm, where birks there be; Adieu! my ladye, and only joy, For I may not stay wi’ thee. IX ‘Adieu! Fair Eskdale up and down, Where my puir friends do dwell; The bangisters[1288] will ding them down, And will them sair compell. X ‘But I’ll avenge their feid mysell, When I come o’er the sea; Adieu! my ladye, and only joy For I may not stay wi’ thee.’-- XI ‘Lord of the land, will you go then Unto my father’s place, And walk into their gardens green, And I will you embrace. XII ‘There Hamiltons, and Douglas baith, Shall rise to succour thee.’-- ‘Thanks for thy kindness, fair my dame, But I may not stay wi’ thee.’-- XIII Then he tuik aff a gay gold ring, Thereat hang signets three; ‘Hae, tak thee that, mine ain kind thing, And still hae mind o’ me! XIV ‘But if thou take another lord, Ere I come ower the sea, His life is but a three days’ lease, Though I may not stay wi’ thee.’ XV The wind was fair, the ship was clear, That good lord went away; And most part of his friends were there, To give him a fair convey. XVI They drank the wine, they didna spare Even in that gude lord’s sight-- Sae now he’s o’er the floods sae gray, And Lord Maxwell has ta’en his Goodnight. FOOTNOTES: [1286] my father’s deid = the death of my father. [1287] twined = parted. [1288] bangisters = lawless folk. _152. Helen of Kirconnell_ I 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! II 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! III O think na ye my heart was sair, When my Love dropp’d and spak nae mair! There did she swoon wi’ meikle care, On fair Kirconnell lea. IV