Out they have ta’en her May Catheren, And put the lady in: O it took upon her cheek, her cheek, Took fast upon her chin, Took fast upon her fair body-- She burnt like hollins[244] green. FOOTNOTES: [235] birl’d = poured. [236] gare = gore, in the skirt. [237] cleiding = clothing. [238] daws = dawns. [239] rigg = ridge. [240] sackless = innocent. [241] linn = stream, pool. [242] wyte = blame. [243] May = Maid. [244] hollins = holly. _31. The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie_ I An earthly nourrice[245] sits and sings, And aye she sings, ‘Ba, lily wean! Little ken I my bairn’s father, Far less the land that he staps in.’ II Then ane arose at her bed-fit, An’ a grumly guest I’m sure was he: ‘Here am I, thy bairn’s father, Although that I be not comèlie. III ‘I am a man, upo’ the lan’, An’ I am a silkie[246] in the sea; And when I’m far and far frae lan’, My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie.’ IV ‘It was na weel,’ quo’ the maiden fair, ‘It was na weel, indeed,’ quo’ she, ‘That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie Suld hae come and aught[247] a bairn to me.’ V Now he has ta’en a purse of goud, And he has pat it upo’ her knee, Sayin’, ‘Gie to me my little young son, An’ tak thee up thy nourrice-fee. VI ‘An’ it sall pass on a simmer’s day, When the sin shines het on evera stane, That I will tak my little young son, An’ teach him for to swim his lane[248]. VII ‘An’ thu sall marry a proud gunner, An’ a proud gunner I’m sure he’ll be, An’ the very first schot that ere he schoots, He’ll schoot baith my young son and me.’ FOOTNOTES: [245] nourrice = nurse. [246] silkie = seal. [247] aught = own. [248] his lane = alone, without assistance. _32. The Wife of Usher’s Well_ I There lived a wife at Usher’s well, And a wealthy wife was she; She had three stout and stalwart sons, And sent them o’er the sea. II They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely ane, When word came to the carline[249] wife That her three sons were gane. III They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely three, When word came to the carline wife That her sons she’d never see. IV ‘I wish the wind may never cease, Nor fashes[250] in the flood, Till my three sons come hame to me In earthly flesh and blood!’ V It fell about the Martinmas, When nights are lang and mirk, The carline wife’s three sons came hame, And their hats were o’ the birk. VI It neither grew in syke[251] nor ditch, Nor yet in ony sheugh[252]; But at the gates o’ Paradise That birk grew fair eneugh. VII