Finlay's Scottish Ballads, II, 55, "from a manuscript
formerly written by an old lady."
1 |
When Sir Guy and his train
gaed to hunt the wild boar,
He gard bar up his castle,
behind and before. |
2 |
And he bade his fair lady
guard weel her young son,
For wicked Balcanqual
great mischief had done. |
3 |
So she closed a' the windows,
without and within,
But forgot the wee wicket,
and Balcanqual crap in.
* * * * * |
4 |
Syne Balcanqual he rocked,
and fause nourice sang,
Till through a' the cradle
the baby's blood sprang. |
5 |
'O please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the keys:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
for a' thet he sees.' |
6 |
And Balcanqual ay rocked,
while fause nourice sang,
And through a' the cradle
the baby's blood ran. |
7 |
'Please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the knife:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
tho I'd gie my life.' |
8 |
And Balcanqual still rocked,
and fause nourice sang,
While through a' the cradle
the baby's blood ran. |
9 |
'Now please the bairn, nourice,
and please him wi the bell:'
'He'll no be pleased, madam,
till ye come yoursell.' |
10 |
Down came this fair lady,
tripping down the stair,
To see her sick bairn,
but returned never mair. |
11 |
'Now scour the bason, Jenny,
and scour't very clean,
To haad this lady's blood,
for she's of noble kin.'
* * * * * |