The Deil's Courting
THE ELFIN KNIGHT—I
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 103. From the recitation of John
McWhinnie, collier, Newtown Green, Ayr.
1
A lady wonned on yonder hill,
Hee ba and balou ba
And she had musick at her will.
And the wind has blown my plaid awa
2
Up and cam an auld, auld man,
Wi his blue bonnet in his han.
3
‘I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye'll gang wi me.
4
‘Ye maun mak to me a sark,
It maun be free o woman's wark.
5
‘Ye maun shape it knife-sheerless,
And ye maun sew it needle-threedless.
6
‘Ye maun wash it in yonder well,
Whare rain nor dew has ever fell.
7
‘Ye maun dry it on yonder thorn,
Where leaf neer grew since man was born.’
8
‘I will ask ye questions three;
Resolve them, or ye'll neer get me.
9
‘I hae a rig o bonnie land
Atween the saut sea and the sand.
10
‘Ye maun plow it wi ae horse bane,
And harrow it wi ae harrow pin.
11
‘Ye maun shear't wi a whang o leather,
And ye maun bind't bot strap or tether.
12
‘Ye maun stack it in the sea,
And bring the stale hame dry to me.
13
‘Ye maun mak a cart o stane,
And yoke the wren and bring it hame.
14
‘Ye maun thresh't atween your lufes,
And ye maun sack't atween your thies.’
15
‘My curse on those wha learnëd thee;
This night I weend ye'd gane wi me.’
