J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 1

140 MINSTRELSY OF
Then aye he harped, and aye he carped,*
Till a' the lordlings footed the floor ;
But an' the music was sae sweet,
The groom had nae mind o' the stable door.
And aye lie harped, and aye he carped,
Till a' the nobles were fast asleep ;
Then quickly he took afF his shoon.
And saftly down the stair did creep.
Syne to the stable door he hied,
Wi' tread as light as light could be ;
And when he opened and gaed in,
There he fand thirty steeds and three.
He took a cowt halter-f- frae his hose,
And o"* his purpose he didna fail ;
He slipt it ower the Wanton's nose,
And tied it to his gray mare's tale.
He turned them loose at the castle gate,
Ower muir and moss and ilka dale ;
And she ne'er let the Wanton bait,
But kept him a-galloping hame to her foal.
• Carped— Sung. f Cnwl hnlffr—CoWs halter.