Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > National melodist

226 POPULAR SONGS.
Sir Ralph has leant him o'er the boat,
He cut the bell from off the float.
Down sunk the bell with ginglin^ sound,
The bursting billows close around ; —
Quoth the rover, " The next that comes to the
rock
Wont bless the old Abbot of Aberbrothock."
Sir Ralph the Rover sailed away,
He harried the seas for many a day,
Till, having gained of gold full store.
He home returned to Scotland's shore.
The wind had blown a gale all day —
Towards evening it had died away ;
The mist was so thick on the ocean green,
Nor cape nor headland could be seen.
On the deck the rover takes his stand,
" The weather's so thick, I can spy no land ;"
Quoth another " 'twill be lighter soon,
Yonder's the beam of the rising moon ;" —
Quoth another " Dost hear the breakers roar,
Yonder, methinks, should be the shore ;
Yet where we are I cannot tell.
Would to heaven we could hear the Inch-Cape
bell."
Though the vi^ind is down, the tide is strong.
The vessel quickly drifts along : —
At once slie strikes, with a dreadful shock —
" Oh Christ ! she has struck on the Inch-Cape
Rock !"
Sir Ralph the rover tore his hair.
He curst himself in his despair !
The rock had burst an opening wide.
The waves rushed in on every side, —
Yet even in that hour of fear
One only sound could the rover hear ;