University of Virginia Library

THE WHUMMIL BORE

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a. Motherwell's MS., p. 191. b. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xvi, No iii.

1

Seven lang years I hae served the king,
Fa fa fa fa lilly
And I never got a sight of his daughter but ane.
With my glimpy, glimpy, glimpy eedle,
Lillum too tee a ta too a tee a ta a tally

2

I saw her thro a whummil bore,
And I neer got a sight of her no more.

3

Twa was putting on her gown,
And ten was putting pins therein.

4

Twa was putting on her shoon,
And twa was buckling them again.

5

Five was combing down her hair,
And I never got a sight of her nae mair.

6

Her neck and breast was like the snow,
Then from the bore I was forced to go.