Then siching said the Queen hersel’, ‘That thing’s too high for me!’ But she applied to an auld woman Wha had mair skill than she. XXVII Instead o’ dancers to dance a dance, Or minstrels for to play, Four-and-twenty well-wight men Turn’d birds o’ feathers gray. XXVIII Her seven sons in seven swans, Aboon their heads to flee; And he himsel’ a gay goshawk, A bird o’ high degree. XXIX This flock o’ birds took flight and flew Beyond the raging sea, And landed near the Earl Mar’s castle, Took shelter in every tree. XXX They were a flock o’ pretty birds Right comely to be seen; The people view’d them wi’ surprise As they dancèd on the green. XXXI These birds flew out frae every tree And lichted on the ha’, And [frae the roof] with force did flee Amang the nobles a’. XXXII The storks there seized [ilk wedding-guest] --They could not fight nor flee; The swans they bound the [bridegroom fast] Below a green aik tree. XXXIII They lichted next on the [bride-] maidens, Then on the bride’s own head; And wi’ the twinkling o’ an e’e The bride an’ them were fled. XXXIV There’s ancient men at weddings been For sixty years or more, But siccan a curious wedding-day They never saw before. XXXV For naething could the companie do, Nor naething could they say; But they saw a flock o’ pretty birds That took their bride away. FOOTNOTES: [214] doo = dove. [215] hingers = hangings, curtains. [216] well-wight = strong, lusty. _26. Proud Lady Margaret_ I Fair Margret was a proud ladye, The King’s cousin was she; Fair Margret was a rich ladye, An’ vain as vain cou’d be. II Ae night she sat in her stately ha’ Kaimin’ her yellow hair, When in there cam’ a gentle Knight, An’ a white scarf he did wear. III ‘O what’s your will wi’ me, Sir Knight? O what’s your will wi’ me? You’re the likest to my ae brither That ever I did see. IV ‘You’re the likest to my ae brither That ever I hae seen; But he’s buried in Dunfermline kirk A month an’ mair bygane.’-- V ‘I’m the likest to your ae brither That ever ye did see; But I canna get rest in my grave, A’ for the pride o’ thee. VI ‘Leave pride, Margret, leave pride, Margret, Leave pride an’ vanity; Cou’d ye see the sights that I hae seen Sair warnèd ye wou’d be. VII ‘For the wee worms are my bedfellows, An’ cauld clay is my sheets, An’ when the stormy winds do blow My body lies and sleeps. VIII ‘O ye come in at the kirk-door Wi’ the red gowd on your crown; But when you come where I have been, You’ll wear it laigher[217] down. IX