The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd Centenary Edition. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Thomas Thomson ... Poems and Life. With Many Illustrative Engravings [by James Hogg] |
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
145
THE POETIC MIRROR.
172
The Gude Greye Katt.
There wase ane katt, and ane gude greye katt,
That duallit in the touir of Blain;
And mony haif hearit of that gude katt,
That neuir shall heare agayn.
That duallit in the touir of Blain;
And mony haif hearit of that gude katt,
That neuir shall heare agayn.
Scho had ane brynd upon her backe,
And ane brent abone hir bree;
Hir culoris war the merilit heuis
That dappil the krene berrye.
And ane brent abone hir bree;
Hir culoris war the merilit heuis
That dappil the krene berrye.
But scho had that withyn hir ee
That man may neuir declaire,
For scho had that withyn hir ee
Quhich mortyl dochtna beare.
That man may neuir declaire,
For scho had that withyn hir ee
Quhich mortyl dochtna beare.
Sumtymis ane ladye sochte the touir,
Of rych and fayre beautye;
Sumtymis ane maukyn cam therin,
Hytchyng rycht wistfullye.
Of rych and fayre beautye;
Sumtymis ane maukyn cam therin,
Hytchyng rycht wistfullye.
But quhan they serchit the touir of Blain,
And socht it sayre and lang,
They fande nocht but the gude greye katt
Sittyng thrummyng at hir sang;
And socht it sayre and lang,
They fande nocht but the gude greye katt
Sittyng thrummyng at hir sang;
And up scho rase and pacit hir wayis
Full stetlye ower the stene,
And streikit out hir braw hint-leg,
As nocht at all had bene.
Full stetlye ower the stene,
And streikit out hir braw hint-leg,
As nocht at all had bene.
Weil mocht the wyfis in that kintrye
Rayse up ane grefous stir,
For neuir ane katt in all the lande
Durst moop or melle wyth hir.
Rayse up ane grefous stir,
For neuir ane katt in all the lande
Durst moop or melle wyth hir.
Quhaneuir theye lukit in her fece,
Their fearis greue se ryfe,
Theye snirtit and theye yollit throu frychte,
And rann for dethe and lyfe.
Their fearis greue se ryfe,
Theye snirtit and theye yollit throu frychte,
And rann for dethe and lyfe.
The Lairde of Blain he had ane spouis,
Beth cumlye, gude, and kynde;
But scho had gane to the landis of pece,
And left him sad behynde;
Beth cumlye, gude, and kynde;
But scho had gane to the landis of pece,
And left him sad behynde;
He had seuin dochteris all se fayre,
Of mayre than yerdlye grece,
Seuin bonnyer babyis neuir braithit ayre,
Or smylit in parentis fece.
Of mayre than yerdlye grece,
Seuin bonnyer babyis neuir braithit ayre,
Or smylit in parentis fece.
Ane daye, quhan theye war all alane,
He sayde with hevye mene;
“Quhat will cum of ye, my deire babyis,
Now quhan your moderis gene?
He sayde with hevye mene;
“Quhat will cum of ye, my deire babyis,
Now quhan your moderis gene?
“O quha will leide your tendyr myndis
The pethe of ladyhoode,
To thynke as ladye ocht to thynke,
And feele as mayden sholde?
The pethe of ladyhoode,
To thynke as ladye ocht to thynke,
And feele as mayden sholde?
“Weil mot it kythe in maydenis mynde,
And maydenis modestye,
The want of hir that weil wase fit
For taske unmeite for me!”
And maydenis modestye,
The want of hir that weil wase fit
For taske unmeite for me!”
But up then spak the gude greye katt
That satt on the herthe stene,
“O hald yer tung, my deire maister,
Nor mak se sayre ane mene;
That satt on the herthe stene,
“O hald yer tung, my deire maister,
Nor mak se sayre ane mene;
“For I will breide your seuin dochteris,
To winsum ladyhoode;
To thynke as ladyis ocht to thynke,
And feile as maydenis sholde.
To winsum ladyhoode;
To thynke as ladyis ocht to thynke,
And feile as maydenis sholde.
“I'll breide them fayre, I'll breide them free
From every seye of syn,
Fayre as the blumyng roz withoute,
And pure in herte withyn.”
From every seye of syn,
Fayre as the blumyng roz withoute,
And pure in herte withyn.”
Rychte sayre astoundit wase the lairde,
Ane frychtenit man wase he;
But the sueite babyis war full faine,
And chicklit joifullye.
Ane frychtenit man wase he;
But the sueite babyis war full faine,
And chicklit joifullye.
May Ella tooke the gude greye katt
Rychte fondlye on hir knee;
“And hethe my pussye lernit to speike?
I troue scho lernit of me.”
Rychte fondlye on hir knee;
“And hethe my pussye lernit to speike?
I troue scho lernit of me.”
The katt, scho thrummyt at hir sang,
And turnit hir haffet sleike,
And drewe hir bonnye bassenyt side
Againste the babyis cheike.
And turnit hir haffet sleike,
And drewe hir bonnye bassenyt side
Againste the babyis cheike.
But the lairde he was ane cunnyng lairde,
And he saide with spechis fayre,
“I haif a feste in hall to nychte,
Sueite pussye, be you there.”
And he saide with spechis fayre,
“I haif a feste in hall to nychte,
Sueite pussye, be you there.”
The katt scho set ane luke on him,
That turnit his herte til stene;
“If you haif feste in hall to nychte,
I shall be there for ane.”
That turnit his herte til stene;
“If you haif feste in hall to nychte,
I shall be there for ane.”
The feste wase laide, the tabil spread
With rych and nobil store,
And there wase set the byschope of Blain,
With all his holy kore;
With rych and nobil store,
And there wase set the byschope of Blain,
With all his holy kore;
He wase ane wyce and wylie wychte
Of wytch and warlockrye,
And mony ane wyfe had byrnit to coome,
Or hangit on ane tre.
Of wytch and warlockrye,
And mony ane wyfe had byrnit to coome,
Or hangit on ane tre.
He kenit their merkis and molis of hell,
And made them joifully
Ryde on the reid-het gad of ern,
Ane plesaunt sycht to se.
And made them joifully
Ryde on the reid-het gad of ern,
Ane plesaunt sycht to se.
The byschope said ane holye grace,
Unpatiente to begyn,
But nathyng of the gude greye katt
Was funde the touir withyn;
Unpatiente to begyn,
But nathyng of the gude greye katt
Was funde the touir withyn;
But in there cam ane fayre ladye
Cledd in the sylken sheene,
Ane winsumer and bonnyer may
On yerde was neuir seene.
Cledd in the sylken sheene,
Ane winsumer and bonnyer may
On yerde was neuir seene.
173
Scho tuke her sete at tabil heide,
With courtlye modestye,
Quhill ilken bosome byrnit with lufe,
And waulit ilken ee.
With courtlye modestye,
Quhill ilken bosome byrnit with lufe,
And waulit ilken ee.
Sueite was hir voyce to all the ryng,
Unlesse the Lairde of Blain,
For he had hearit that very voyce
From off his own herthe stene.
Unlesse the Lairde of Blain,
For he had hearit that very voyce
From off his own herthe stene.
He barrit the doris and windois fast,
He barrit them to the jynne;
“Now in the grece of Heuin,” said he,
“Your excercyse begyn;
He barrit them to the jynne;
“Now in the grece of Heuin,” said he,
“Your excercyse begyn;
“There is ne grece nor happynesse
For my poor babyis soulis,
Until you trye that weirdlye wytch,
And rost hir on the colis.”
For my poor babyis soulis,
Until you trye that weirdlye wytch,
And rost hir on the colis.”
“If this be scho,” the byschope saide,
“This beauteous cumlye May,
It is meite I try hir all alone
To heire quhat scho will saye.”
“This beauteous cumlye May,
It is meite I try hir all alone
To heire quhat scho will saye.”
“No,” quod the lairde, “I suthely sweire
None shall from this proceide,
Until I see that wycked wytch
Brynt til ane izel reide.”
None shall from this proceide,
Until I see that wycked wytch
Brynt til ane izel reide.”
The byschope knelit doune and prayit,
Quhill all their hayris did creipe;
And aye he hoonit and he prayit,
Quhill all war faste asleipe;
Quhill all their hayris did creipe;
And aye he hoonit and he prayit,
Quhill all war faste asleipe;
He prayit gain syn and Sauten bothe,
And deidis of shyft and schame;
But all the tyme his faithful handis
Pressit the cumlye dame.
And deidis of shyft and schame;
But all the tyme his faithful handis
Pressit the cumlye dame.
Weil saw the lairde, but nething saide,
He kenit, in holye zele
He grepit for the merkis of hell,
Whilk he did ken ful weil.
He kenit, in holye zele
He grepit for the merkis of hell,
Whilk he did ken ful weil.
And aye he pressit hir lillye hande,
And kyssit it ferventlye,
And prayit betweine, for och ane kynde
And lufyng preste was he!
And kyssit it ferventlye,
And prayit betweine, for och ane kynde
And lufyng preste was he!
The byschope stappit and sterted sore,
Wide gaipen with affrychte,
For och that fayre and lillye hande
Had turned ane paw outrychte!
Wide gaipen with affrychte,
For och that fayre and lillye hande
Had turned ane paw outrychte!
Ane paw with long and crukit clawis:
That breste of heuinlye charme
Had turnit till brusket of ane katt,
Ful hayrie and ful warme!
That breste of heuinlye charme
Had turnit till brusket of ane katt,
Ful hayrie and ful warme!
And there scho satt on lang-settil,
With een of glentyng flame,
And theye war on the byschope sett
Lyke poynter on his game.
With een of glentyng flame,
And theye war on the byschope sett
Lyke poynter on his game.
The byschope turnit him runde aboute,
To se quhat he mocht se;
Scho strak ane clawe in ilken lug,
And throu the rofe did flee.
To se quhat he mocht se;
Scho strak ane clawe in ilken lug,
And throu the rofe did flee.
The katt went throu withouten stop
Lyke schado throu the daye,
But the great byschopis fleschlye forme
Made all the rofe gif waye;
Lyke schado throu the daye,
But the great byschopis fleschlye forme
Made all the rofe gif waye;
The silyng faldit lyke ane buke,
The serker crashit amayne,
And shredis and flenis of brokyn stenis
Fell to the grunde lyke rayne.
The serker crashit amayne,
And shredis and flenis of brokyn stenis
Fell to the grunde lyke rayne.
The braide ful mone wase up the lyft,
The nychte wase lyke ane daye,
As the greate byschope tuke his jante
Up throu the milkye-waye;
The nychte wase lyke ane daye,
As the greate byschope tuke his jante
Up throu the milkye-waye;
He cryit se loude and lustilye
The hillis and skyis war riuen;
Och sicken cryis war neuir hearit
Atweine the yerde and heuin!
The hillis and skyis war riuen;
Och sicken cryis war neuir hearit
Atweine the yerde and heuin!
They sawe him spurryng in the ayre,
And flynging horredlye,
And than he prayit and sang ane saum,
For ane fearit wychte was he;
And flynging horredlye,
And than he prayit and sang ane saum,
For ane fearit wychte was he;
But aye his waylingis fainter greue
As the braide lyft he crossit,
Quhill sum saide that theye hearit them still,
And sum saide all wase loste.
As the braide lyft he crossit,
Quhill sum saide that theye hearit them still,
And sum saide all wase loste.
There was ane herd on Dollar-Lawe,
Turnyng his flockis by nychte,
Or stealyng in ane gude haggyse
Before the mornyng lychte.
Turnyng his flockis by nychte,
Or stealyng in ane gude haggyse
Before the mornyng lychte.
He hearit the cryis cum yont the heuin,
And sawe them bethe passe bye;
The katt scho skreuit up hir taile
As sayrlye pinchit to flye.
And sawe them bethe passe bye;
The katt scho skreuit up hir taile
As sayrlye pinchit to flye.
But aye scho thrummyt at hir sang,
Though he wase sore in thrall,
Like katt that hethe ane jollye mouse
Gaun murryng throu the hall.
Though he wase sore in thrall,
Like katt that hethe ane jollye mouse
Gaun murryng throu the hall.
That greye kattis sang it wase se sweete,
As on the nychte it fell,
The murecokis dancit ane seuinsum ryng
Arunde the hether bell;
As on the nychte it fell,
The murecokis dancit ane seuinsum ryng
Arunde the hether bell;
The foumartis jyggit by the brukis,
The maukinis by the kaile,
And the otar dancit ane minowaye
As he gaed ouir the daile;
The maukinis by the kaile,
And the otar dancit ane minowaye
As he gaed ouir the daile;
The hurchanis helde ane kintrye dance
Alang the brumye knowe,
And the gude toop-hogg rase fra his layre
And ualtzit with the youe.
Alang the brumye knowe,
And the gude toop-hogg rase fra his layre
And ualtzit with the youe.
174
The Greye Kattis Sang.
Murr, my lorde byschope,
I syng to you;
Murr, my lord byschope,
Bawlillilu!
Murr, my lord byschope, &c.
I syng to you;
Murr, my lord byschope,
Bawlillilu!
Murr, my lord byschope, &c.
That nycht ane hynde on Border syde
Chancit at his dore to be;
He spyit ane greate clypse of the mone
And ben the house ran he;
Chancit at his dore to be;
He spyit ane greate clypse of the mone
And ben the house ran he;
He laide ane wisp upon the colis,
And bleue ful lang and sayre,
And rede the Belfaste Almanake,
But the clypse it wase not there.
And bleue ful lang and sayre,
And rede the Belfaste Almanake,
But the clypse it wase not there.
Och! but that hynde wase sor aghaste,
And haf to madnesse driuen;
For he thochte he hearit ane drounyng man
Syching alangis the heuin.
And haf to madnesse driuen;
For he thochte he hearit ane drounyng man
Syching alangis the heuin.
That nychte ane greate filossifere
Had watchit on Etnyis height,
To merk the rysing of the sonne,
And the blythsum mornyng lychte;
Had watchit on Etnyis height,
To merk the rysing of the sonne,
And the blythsum mornyng lychte;
And all the lychtlye lynis of goude,
As on the se they fell;
And watch the fyir and the smoke,
Cum rummilyng up fra hell.
As on the se they fell;
And watch the fyir and the smoke,
Cum rummilyng up fra hell.
He lukit este, the daye cam on
Upon his gladsum pethe,
And the braid mone hang in the west,
Her palenesse wase lyke dethe;
Upon his gladsum pethe,
And the braid mone hang in the west,
Her palenesse wase lyke dethe;
And by her sat ane littil sterne
Quhan all the laife war gane,
It was lyke ane wee fadyng geme
In the wyde worild its lane.
Quhan all the laife war gane,
It was lyke ane wee fadyng geme
In the wyde worild its lane.
Then the filossifere was sadde,
And he turnit his ee awaye,
For they mindit him of the yerdlye greate,
In dethe or in decaye.
And he turnit his ee awaye,
For they mindit him of the yerdlye greate,
In dethe or in decaye.
He turnit his face unto the north
The fallyng teare to drie,
And he spyit ane thing of wonderous maike,
Atweine the yerde and skie;
The fallyng teare to drie,
And he spyit ane thing of wonderous maike,
Atweine the yerde and skie;
It wase lyke ane burd withoutten wyng,
Rychte wonderous to beholde,
And it bure ane forked thyng alang,
With swiftnesse manifolde:
Rychte wonderous to beholde,
And it bure ane forked thyng alang,
With swiftnesse manifolde:
But aye it greue as neare it dreue—
His herte bete wondir sayre!
The sonne, the mone, and sternis war gaine,
He thochte of them ne mayre,
Quhan he behelde ane jollye preste
Cumyng swyggyng throu the ayre.
His herte bete wondir sayre!
The sonne, the mone, and sternis war gaine,
He thochte of them ne mayre,
Quhan he behelde ane jollye preste
Cumyng swyggyng throu the ayre.
The katt scho helde him by the luggis
Atour the ausum hole,
And och! the drede that he wase in
Wase mayre than man colde thole:
Atour the ausum hole,
And och! the drede that he wase in
Wase mayre than man colde thole:
He cryit, “O pussye, hald your gryp;
Oh hald and dinna spaire;
Oh drap me in the yerde or se,
But dinna drap me there!”
Oh hald and dinna spaire;
Oh drap me in the yerde or se,
But dinna drap me there!”
But scho wase ane doure and deidlye katt,
And scho saide with lychtsum ayre,
“You kno heuin is ane blissit plece
And all the prestis gang there.”
And scho saide with lychtsum ayre,
“You kno heuin is ane blissit plece
And all the prestis gang there.”
“Oh sueite, sueite pussye, hald your gryp;
Spaire nouther cleke nor clawe;
Is euir that lyke heuin abone,
In quhich am lyke to fa'?”
Spaire nouther cleke nor clawe;
Is euir that lyke heuin abone,
In quhich am lyke to fa'?”
And aye scho hang him by the luggis
Abone the ausum den,
Till he fande the gryp rive slowlye out;
Sore was he quakyng then!
Abone the ausum den,
Till he fande the gryp rive slowlye out;
Sore was he quakyng then!
Doune went the byschope, doune lyke leide,
Into the hollowe nychte;
His goune was flappyng in the ayre,
Quhan he was out of sychte.
Into the hollowe nychte;
His goune was flappyng in the ayre,
Quhan he was out of sychte.
They hearit him honyng doune the deep,
Till the croone it dyit awaye;
It wase lyke the stoune of ane great bom-be
Gaun soundyng throu the daye.
Till the croone it dyit awaye;
It wase lyke the stoune of ane great bom-be
Gaun soundyng throu the daye.
All wase in sloomeryng quietnesse,
Quhan he went doune to hell,
But seckn an houre wase neuir seine,
Quhan the gude lorde byschope fell.
Quhan he went doune to hell,
But seckn an houre wase neuir seine,
Quhan the gude lorde byschope fell.
Then cam the smouder and the smoke
Up raschyng vilentlye,
And it tourackit awaye til heuin
Ane gloryous sychte to se;
Up raschyng vilentlye,
And it tourackit awaye til heuin
Ane gloryous sychte to se;
For aye it rowit its fleecye curlis
Out to the rysing sonne,
And the estern syde was gildit goude,
And all the westlin dunne.
Out to the rysing sonne,
And the estern syde was gildit goude,
And all the westlin dunne.
Then the filossifere wase muvit,
And he wist not quhat til say,
For he saw nochte of the gude greye katt;
But he saw ane ladye gay.
And he wist not quhat til say,
For he saw nochte of the gude greye katt;
But he saw ane ladye gay.
Hir goune wase of the gress-grene sylk,
And hir ee wase lyke the deue,
And hir hayre wase lyke the threidis of goude
That runde her shoulderis fleue.
And hir ee wase lyke the deue,
And hir hayre wase lyke the threidis of goude
That runde her shoulderis fleue.
Hir gairtenis war the raynbowis heme,
That scho tyit anethe hir knee,
And aye scho kemit hir yellow hayre,
And sang ful plesauntlye:
That scho tyit anethe hir knee,
And aye scho kemit hir yellow hayre,
And sang ful plesauntlye:
175
“I am the Queene of the Fairy Land,
I'll do ne harme to thee,
For I am the gardian of the gude,
Let the wycked be ware of me.
I'll do ne harme to thee,
For I am the gardian of the gude,
Let the wycked be ware of me.
“There are seuin pearlis in yonder touir,
Their number sune shall wane;
There are seuin flouris in fayre Scotland,
I'll pu them ane by ane;
Their number sune shall wane;
There are seuin flouris in fayre Scotland,
I'll pu them ane by ane;
“And the weeist burd in all the bouir
Shall be the last thatis taene;
The Lairde of Blain hethe seuin dochteris,
But sune he shall haif nane.
Shall be the last thatis taene;
The Lairde of Blain hethe seuin dochteris,
But sune he shall haif nane.
“I'll bathe them all in the krystal streime
Throu the fairy land that flouis,
I'll seike the bouiris of paradyce
For the bonnyest flouir that blouis,
Throu the fairy land that flouis,
I'll seike the bouiris of paradyce
For the bonnyest flouir that blouis,
“And I'll distil it in the deue
That fallis on the hillis of heuin,
And the hues that luvely angelis weire
Shall to these maidis be giuen.
That fallis on the hillis of heuin,
And the hues that luvely angelis weire
Shall to these maidis be giuen.
“And I'll trie how luvelye and how fayre
Their formis may be to se,
And I'll trie how pure the maydenis mynde
In this ill worild may be.”
Their formis may be to se,
And I'll trie how pure the maydenis mynde
In this ill worild may be.”
The Lairde of Blain he walkis the wode,
But he walkis it all alane;
The Lairde of Blain had seuin dochteris,
But now he hethe not ane.
But he walkis it all alane;
The Lairde of Blain had seuin dochteris,
But now he hethe not ane.
They neuir war on dethbed layde,
But they elyit all awaye;
He lost his babyis ane by ane
Atween the nychte and day.
But they elyit all awaye;
He lost his babyis ane by ane
Atween the nychte and day.
He kend not quhat to thynk or saye,
Or quhat did him beseime,
But he walkit throu this weirye worild
Like ane thatis in a dreime.
Or quhat did him beseime,
But he walkit throu this weirye worild
Like ane thatis in a dreime.
Quhan seuin lang yearis, and seuin lang daies,
Had slowlye cumit and gane,
He walkit throu the gude grene wode,
And he walkit all alane;
Had slowlye cumit and gane,
He walkit throu the gude grene wode,
And he walkit all alane;
He turnit his fece unto the skie,
And the teire stude in his ee,
For he thocht of the ladye of his lufe,
And his lost familye:
And the teire stude in his ee,
For he thocht of the ladye of his lufe,
And his lost familye:
But aye his fayth was firm and sure,
And his trust in Heuin still,
For he hopit to meite them all agayne
Beyond the reiche of ill:
And his trust in Heuin still,
For he hopit to meite them all agayne
Beyond the reiche of ill:
And aye the teiris fell on the grene,
As he knelit downe to praye;
But he wase se muvit with tendirnesse
That ane worde he colde not say.
As he knelit downe to praye;
But he wase se muvit with tendirnesse
That ane worde he colde not say.
He lukit oure his left shouldir
To se quhat he mocht se;
There he behelde seuin bonnye maydis
Cumyng tryppyng owre the le!
To se quhat he mocht se;
There he behelde seuin bonnye maydis
Cumyng tryppyng owre the le!
Sic beautye ee had neuir seine,
Nor euir agayne shall se;
Sic luvely formis of flesche and blude
On yerde can neuir be:
Nor euir agayne shall se;
Sic luvely formis of flesche and blude
On yerde can neuir be:
The joie that bemit in ilken ee
Wase lyke the risyng sonne;
The fayriste blumis in all the wode
Besyde their formis war dunne:
Wase lyke the risyng sonne;
The fayriste blumis in all the wode
Besyde their formis war dunne:
There wase ane wrethe on ilken heide,
On ilken bosom thre,
And the brychtest flouiris the worild e'er saw
War noddyng owre the bre.
On ilken bosom thre,
And the brychtest flouiris the worild e'er saw
War noddyng owre the bre.
But cese yer strayne, my gude auld herpe,
O cese, and syng ne mayre!
Gin ye wolde of that meityng tell,
Oh, I mocht reue it sayre!
O cese, and syng ne mayre!
Gin ye wolde of that meityng tell,
Oh, I mocht reue it sayre!
There wolde ne ee in faire Scotland,
Nor luvelye cheike be drie:
The laveroke wolde forget hir sang
And drap deide fra the skie;
Nor luvelye cheike be drie:
The laveroke wolde forget hir sang
And drap deide fra the skie;
And the desye wolde ne mayre be quhyte,
And the lillye wolde chainge hir heue,
For the blude-drapis wolde fal fra the mone.
And reiden the mornyng deue.
And the lillye wolde chainge hir heue,
For the blude-drapis wolde fal fra the mone.
And reiden the mornyng deue.
But quhan I tell ye oute my tale,
Ful playnle ye will se,
That quhare there is ne syn nor schame
No sorroue there can be.
Ful playnle ye will se,
That quhare there is ne syn nor schame
No sorroue there can be.
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |