 | The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill |  |
170
THE HAUNTET WUD.
IN IMITATION OF JOHN BARBOUR, AN OLD SCOTS POET.
Quhy screim the crowis owr yonder wud,
Witht loude and clamourynge dynne,
Haf deifenynge the torrentis roare,
Quhilk dashis owr yon linne?
Witht loude and clamourynge dynne,
Haf deifenynge the torrentis roare,
Quhilk dashis owr yon linne?
Quhy straye the flokis far outowr,
Alang the stanery lee,
And wil nocht graze anear the wud,
Thof ryche the pasturis be?
Alang the stanery lee,
And wil nocht graze anear the wud,
Thof ryche the pasturis be?
And quhy dis oft the sheipherdis dug,
Gif that ane lamikyne straye,
Ay yamf and yowl besyde the wud,
Nae farthir yn wil gaye?
Gif that ane lamikyne straye,
Ay yamf and yowl besyde the wud,
Nae farthir yn wil gaye?
“Marvil thee nocht at quhat thou seist,”
The tremblynge rusticke sayde,
“For yn that feindis-hauntet wud
Hath guyltlesse blude been sched.
The tremblynge rusticke sayde,
“For yn that feindis-hauntet wud
Hath guyltlesse blude been sched.
“Thou seist far doun yon buschye howe,
An eldrin castil greye,
Witht teth of tyme, and weir of wyndis,
Fast mouldiryng yn decaye.
An eldrin castil greye,
Witht teth of tyme, and weir of wyndis,
Fast mouldiryng yn decaye.
“'Twas ther the jealous Barrone livit,
Witht Lady Anne hys wyfe;
He fleichit hyr neatht that wudis dark glume,
And revit hyr ther of lyffe.
Witht Lady Anne hys wyfe;
He fleichit hyr neatht that wudis dark glume,
And revit hyr ther of lyffe.
“And eir hyr fayre bodye was founde,
The flesch cam fra the bane,
The snailis sat, feistyng onne hyr cheikis,
The spydiris velit hyr ein.
The flesch cam fra the bane,
The snailis sat, feistyng onne hyr cheikis,
The spydiris velit hyr ein.
171
“And evir syne nae beist nor byrde
Will byde twa nichtis thair,
For fearful yellis and screichis wylde
Are heird throuch nicht sae dreir.”
Will byde twa nichtis thair,
For fearful yellis and screichis wylde
Are heird throuch nicht sae dreir.”
| The songs and poems of Robert Tannahill | |