Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Scottish ballads

18
On the highest tree in Otterbourne
Sune hangit shalt thou be.
But I hae dreimed a drearie dreim : —
Beyond the Isle o' Skye,
I saw a deid man win a fight ;
And I think that man was I."
He belted on his gude braidsword,
And to the field he ran ;
But he forgot the helmet gude,
That should have kept his brain.
When Percy wi* the Douglas met,
I wat he was fu' fain I
They swakkit their swords till sair they swat,
And the blude ran down like rain.
But Percy, wi' his gude braid sword.
That could sae sharply wound,
Has wounded Douglas on the brow,
Till he fell to the ground.
Then he called on his little foot page,
And said, " Run speedilie,
And fetch my ain deir sister's son,
Sir Hugh Montgomerie.
My nephew gude," the Douglas said,
" What recks the death o' ane I
Last nicht I dreimed a drearie dreim,
And I ken the day's thy ain.
My wound is deep ; I fain wad sleep :
Tak thou the vanguard o' the three,
And hide me by the braken-bush
That grows on yonder lilye lee.