The Loch o the Loanie
THE CRUEL MOTHER—N
[_]
Campbell MSS, II, 264.
1
As I lookit oer my father's castle wa,
All alone and alone O
I saw two pretty babes playing at the ba.
Down by yon green-wood sidie
2
‘O pretty babes, gin ye were mine,’
Hey the loch o the Loanie
‘I would clead ye o the silk sae fine.’
Down by that green-wood sidie
3
‘O sweet darlings, gin ye were mine,’
Hey the loch o the Loanie
‘I would feed ye on the morning's milk.’
Down by that green-wood sidie
4
‘O mither dear, when we were thine,’
By the loch o the Loanie
‘Ye neither dressd us wi silk nor twine.’
Down by this green-wood sidie
5
‘But ye tuke out your little pen-knife,’
By, etc.
‘And there ye tuke yer little babes' life.’
Down by the, etc.
6
‘O mither dear, when this ye had done,’
Alone by, etc.
‘Ye unkirtled yersel, and ye wrapt us in 't.’
Down by the, etc.
7
‘Neist ye houkit a hole fornent the seen.’
All alone and alone O
‘And tearless ye stappit your little babes in’
Down by the, etc.
8
‘But we are in the heavens high,’
And far frae the loch o the Loanie
‘But ye hae the pains o hell to d[r]ie.’
Before ye leave the green-wood sidie
