| |
I
THERE were twa brethren in the North, | |
| They went to school thegither; | |
| The one unto the other said, | |
| ‘Will you try a warsle, brither?’ | |
| |
II
They warsled up, they warsled down, | 5 |
| Till Sir John fell to the ground, | |
| And there was a knife in Sir Willie’s pouch | |
| Gied him a deadly wound. | |
| |
III
‘Tak’ aff, tak’ aff my holland sark, | |
| Rive it frae gare to gare, | 10 |
| And stap it in my bleeding wound— | |
| ’Twill aiblins bleed nae mair.’ | |
| |
IV
He’s pu’it aff his holland sark, | |
| Rave it frae gare to gare, | |
| And stapt it in his bleeding wound— | 15 |
| But aye it bled the mair. | |
| |
V
‘O tak’ now aff my green cleiding | |
| And row me saftly in, | |
| And carry me up to Chester kirk, | |
| Whar the grass grows fair and green. | 20 |
| |
VI
‘But what will ye say to your father dear | |
| When ye gae home at e’en?’— | |
| ‘I’ll say ye’re lying at Chester kirk, | |
| Whar the grass grows fair and green.’— | |
| |
VII
‘O no, O no, when he speers for me | 25 |
| Saying, “William, whar is John?” | |
| Ye’ll say ye left me at Chester school | |
| Leaving the school alone.’ | |
| |
VIII
He’s ta’en him up upo’ his back, | |
| And borne him hence away, | 30 |
| And carried him to Chester kirk, | |
| And laid him in the clay. | |
| |
IX
But when he sat in his father’s chair, | |
| He grew baith pale and wan: | |
| ‘O what blude’s that upon your brow? | 35 |
| And whar is your brither John?’— | |
| |
X
‘O John’s awa’ to Chester school, | |
| A scholar he’ll return; | |
| He bade me tell his father dear | |
| About him no’ to mourn. | 40 |
| |
XI
‘And it is the blude o’ my gude grey steed; | |
| He wadna hunt for me.’— | |
| ‘O thy steed’s blude was ne’er so red, | |
| Nor ne’er so dear to me! | |
| |
XII
‘And whaten blude’s that upon your dirk? | 45 |
| Dear Willie, tell to me.’— | |
| ‘It is the blude o’ my ae brither | |
| And dule and wae is me!’— | |
| |
XIII
‘O what sall I say to your mither? | |
| Dear Willie, tell to me.’— | 50 |
| ‘I’ll saddle my steed and awa’ I’ll ride, | |
| To dwell in some far countrie.’— | |
| |
XIV
‘O when will ye come hame again? | |
| Dear Willie, tell to me!’— | |
| ‘When the sun and moon dance on yon green: | 55 |
| And that will never be!’ | |
| | | GLOSS: warsle] wrestle. rive] tear. gare] gore. aiblins] perhaps. cleiding] clothing. row] wrap. speers] asks. |
|
| |
