History of the family of Seton during eight centuries > Volume 2

938 SE TON'S SONS, OR THE
' And wat them wi' these happing tears
That wash my auld auld e'en ;
That channel doun these wrynkelets,
Gin he will list bedeen.'
' My bairnies,' quo the mither then,
' That I hae kist sae aft,
Canna we save them frae their death,
But sic a pryce we coft.
' Thare pretty necks I 've slibber'd sae :
Ah ! Percy, gentil lorde,
To hae them raxed upon a tree,
And strangled wi' a cord !
' O Jesu ! 'tis unkenned the wyte
Upon my herte sae sair,
To hang my bairns, or mak their feyther
Disgracit for ever mair.'
' My honour, gentle, gentle lord,
I weepe to mak me blynde,
How shall I gyue the keys to him,
And yet my honour fynd ?
' My childiren are deere to me,
I 've hyked them in these arms ;
Baith have their mither's voice and feyce,
My blude theyre bosom warms.
' I '11 die for them, gif your kyng likes,
And freely do the same :
Oh Percy ! tell me what to do,
Save them, and scaith all blame.'
Percy he fidgit to gang awa',
And syne he rubbit his e'e ;
' Curse on the stoure, it blynds one sae,
The de'il a thyng I see.'
He joukit cannily oot o' the room,
For the leddy she grippit him sair ;
And Seton he bow'd him to the yett,
Syne doun the ramparts stayre.
They biggit a gallows on hangie dyke neuk,
And the hangman came there betyme,
The cock crow'd loudly o'er the muirs,
' Seton's sounes, 'tis matin pryme.'
The trumpets sounded out oure the Tweed
Wi' a blast o' deadly sound ;
Auld Seton and wyfe gaed up on the wa's,
For theyre sonnes to death were bound.
They kent the tread o' their gallant bairns
As they cam forth for to dee ;
Richard he mounted the ladder fyrst,
And threw himself frae the tree.