176. Bessie Bell and Mary Gray

Previous
Arthur Quiller-Couch

I

O Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
 They war twa bonnie lasses;
 They biggit[1308] a bower on yon burn-brae,
 And theekit[1309] it o’er wi’ rashes.

II

They theekit it o’er wi’ rashes green,
 They theekit it o’er wi’ heather;
 But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
 And slew them baith thegither.

III

They thought to lye in Methven kirkyard,
 Amang their noble kin;
 But they maun lye in Stronach haugh[1310],
 To biek[1311] forenent the sin[1312].

IV

And Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
 They war twa bonnie lasses;
 They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
 And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.

FOOTNOTES:

[1308] biggit = built.

[1309] theekit = thatched.

[1310] haugh = water-mead.

[1311] biek = bask.

[1312] sin = sun.

[Pg 866]
[Pg 867]

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Clyx.com


Top of Page
Top of Page