  IHer mother died when she was young, Which gave her cause to make great moan; Her father married the warst woman That ever lived in Christendom. IIShe servÈd her wi’ foot and hand In everything that she could dee Till once, in an unlucky time She threw her owre a craig IIISays, ‘Lie you there, dove Isabel, And all my sorrows lie wi’ thee! Till Kemp And borrow IVHer breath grew strang, her hair grew lang And twisted thrice about the tree, And all the people, far and near, Thought that a savage beast was she. VAnd aye she cried for Kemp Owyne Gin that he would but com’ to her hand:— Now word has gane to Kemp Owyne That siccan VI‘Now by my sooth,’ says Kemp Owyne, ‘This fiery beast I’ll gang to see’; ‘And by my sooth,’ says Segramour, ‘My ae brother, I’ll gang you wi’.’ VIIO they have biggit And they have set her to the sea; But a mile before they reach’d the shore I wot she gar’d VIII‘O brother, keep my boat afloat, An’ lat her na the land so near! For the wicked beast she’ll sure go mad, An’ set fire to the land an’ mair.’ IXSyne he has bent an arblast bow And aim’d an arrow at her head, And swore, if she didna quit the land, Wi’ that same shaft to shoot her dead. X‘O out o’ my stythe And it is na for the fear o’ thee— Till Kemp Owyne, the kingis son, Come to the craig an’ thrice kiss me.’ XIHer breath was strang, her hair was lang And twisted thrice about the tree, And with a swing she came about: ‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me! XII‘Here is a royal belt,’ she cried, ‘That I have found in the green sea; And while your body it is on, Drawn shall your blood never be; But if you touch me, tail or fin, I swear my belt your death shall be.’ XIIIHe’s louted As out she swang and about the tree; He steppÈd in, gave her a kiss, The royal belt he brought him wi’. XIVHer breath was strang, her hair was lang And twisted twice about the tree, As awa’ she gid ‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me! XV‘Here is a royal ring,’ she said, ‘That I have found in the green sea; And while your finger it is on, Drawn shall your blood never be; But if you touch me, tail or fin, I swear my ring your death shall be.’ XVIHe’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig, As out she swang and about the tree; He steppÈd in, gave her a kiss, The royal ring he brought him wi’. XVIIHer breath was strang, her hair was lang And twisted ance about the tree, As awa’ she gid and again she swang— ‘Come to the craig, an’ kiss with me! XVIII‘Here is a royal brand,’ she said, ‘That I have found in the green sea; And while your body it is on, Drawn shall your blood never be; But if you touch me, tail or fin, I swear my brand your death shall be.’ XIXHe’s louted him o’er the Eastmuir craig, As out she swang and about the tree; He steppÈd in, gave her a kiss That royal brand he brought him wi’. XXHer breath was sweet, her hair grew short, And twisted nane about the tree, As awa’ she gid and again she came The fairest lady that ever could be. XXI‘O was it a wer-wolf i |
|
