J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border

MINSTRELSY OF THE SCOTTISH BORDER.
He's louted him o'er the Estmere crags,
And he has gien her kisses twa :
Awa she gaed, and again she cam,
The fieryest heast that ever you saw.
" O out of my den I winna rise,
Nor flee it for the fear o' thee,
Tdl Kempion, that courteous knight,
Cum to the crag, and thrice kiss me."
He"'s louted him o'er the lofty crag.
And he has gien her kisses three :
Awa she gaed, and again she cam.
The loveliest ladye e'er could be !
" And by my sooth," says Kempion,
My ain true love (for this is she)
They surely had a heart o' stane,
Could put thee to such misery.
" O was it warwolf in the wood?
Or was it mermaid in the sea ?
Or was it man, or vile woman.
My ain true love, that mishaped thee ? "
" It was na warwolf in the wood.
Nor was it mermaid in the sea ;
But it was my wicked step-mother,
And wae and weary may she be !"
" O a heavier weird * shall light her on,
Then ever fell on vile woman ;
Her hair shall grow rough, and her teeth grow lang,
And on her four feet shall she gang.
" None shall take pity her upon ;
In Wormeswood she aye shall won ;
And relieved shall she never be,
Till St. Mungo-f- come over the sea."
And sighing said that weary wight,
" I doubt that day I'll never see ! "
* From the German auxiliary verb werden, ' ' to become.'
t Saint Kentigern.