THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN
[_]
In a folio volume with the title “Miscellanies,” the last piece in the
volume, Abbotsford.
1
[OMITTED]
As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.
2
[OMITTED]
A stately youth of blude and lane,
[OMITTED]
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.
3
‘Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?
And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
Ye took him away beside my back,
But ye never saw to bring him hame.’
4
And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,
So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he's coming hame by West Gordon.
5
And she staggerd and she stood,
6
‘[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband's blood?’
7
‘Had we been men as we are women,
And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.’
