LAMKIN—I
[_]
Skene MSS, p. 75, North of Scotland, 1802-03.
1
Lanckin was as guid a mason
as ever did use stane;
He biggit Lord Murray's house,
an payment neer got nane.
2
It fell ance on a day
Lord Murray went frae hame,
An Lankin came to the fause nourice,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
3
‘O still my bairn, nourice,
still him wi the knife:’
‘He winna still, lady,
Tho I should lay down my life.’
4
‘O still my bairn, nurice,
still him wi the bell:’
‘He winna still, lady,
till ye come down yersel.’
5
The first [step she steppit],
she came on the marble stane;
The next step [she steppit],
she met him Lankin.
6
‘O spare my life, Lankin,
an I'll gie ye a peck o goud;
An that dinna please ye,
I'll heap it wi my hand.’
7
‘O will I kill the lady, nurice,
or will I lat her be?’
‘O kill her, Lankin,
she was never guid to me.’
8
‘O wanted ye yer meat, nurice?
or wanted ye yer fee?
Or wanted ye the othir bounties
ladys are wont to gie?’
9
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
‘O kill her, Lankin,
she was never guid to me.’
10
‘Gae wash a bason, nurice,
an ye wash it clean,
To cape this ladie's blood;
she is come o high kine.’
11
‘I winna wash a bason,
nor will I wash it clean,
To cape this ladie's blood,
tho she's come o high kine.’
[OMITTED]
12
Bonny sang yon bird,
as he sat upon the tree,
But sare grat Lankin,
for he was hangit hie.
13
Bonny sang the bird,
that sat upon the hill,
But sare grat the nurice,
whan the caudron gan to boil.
14
[OMITTED]
Lankin was hangit hie,
And the fause nourice burnt
in the caudron was she.
