Complete Songs Of Robert Burns - online book

360+ songs with lyrics, sheet music, historical notes & glossary.

Home Main Menu Singing & Playing Order & Order Info Support Search Voucher Codes



Share page  Visit Us On FB



Previous Contents Next
IX. MISCELLANEOUS                       339
The king looks o'er his left shoulder,
And says unto his stable groom ;— 'Gae talc the silly poor harper's mare, ) ,.
And tie her 'side my wanton brown.' J
And ay he harped, and ay he carpit,
Till a' the lords gaed through the floor; They thought the music was sae sweet ) ,.
That they forgat the stable door.          i
And ay he harpit, and ay he carpit,
Till a' the nobles were sound asleep; Then quietly he took aff his shoon          ) ,•
And saftly down the stair did creep, i
Syne to the stable door he hies
Wi' tread as light as light could be, And when he open'd and gaed in,                        \ ,.
There he fand thirty good steeds and threeS
He took the halter frae his hose,
And of his purpose did na fail; He slipt it o'er the wanton's nose, ) ,.
And tied it to his grey mare's tail, j
He ca'd her out at yon back yeate
O'er moss and muir & ilka- dale ; And she loot ne'er the wanton bite, ) ,.
But held her still gaun at her tail, i
The grey mare was right swift o' fit,
And did na fail to find the way, Fof she was at Lochmaben yeate             ) ,.
Fu' lang three hours ere it was day. )
When she came to the harper's door,
There she gae many a nicher and snear; * Rise,' quo' the wife, ' thou lazy lass, ) ,.
Let in thy master and his mare.' i
Then up she raise, pat on her claes,
And lookit out through the lock-hole : 1 O ! by my sooth, then,' quo' the lass, ) ,.
' Our mare has gotten a braw big foal.' )
' Come haud thy peace thou foolish lass,
The moon's but glancing in thy e'e; I'd wad my haill fee 'gainst a groat          ) ,.
It's bigger than e'er our foal will be.' ) z a