Gledha’s Wooing
To Corsbie Keep rode Young Gledha’1
As the moon broke owre the brae ;2
He lighted him down at Corsbie Ford,3
And tethered his steed to the slae.4
He cast his sword at the rown-tree root,5
His dirk upon the heath ;6
He set his foot to Corsbie Craig,7
And climbed it in a breath.8
Proud Maisie stood by the high copestane ;9
The stane and she were still.10
The moonlicht dazzled in her een ;11
Her thoughts were on the hill.12
She turned, to see a shape o’ man13
Rise black against the wa’ ;14
Before her heart could gie a gliff15
She kent the Young Gledha’.16
‘ Now Christ you save and sain, fair may ;17
Now Christ you sain and save !18
Who would have speech o’ your father’s bairn19
Must speel in his ain grave.’20
‘ What seeks the fae of my father’s race21
In my father’s house wi’ me ?22
When the gled swoops at the doocot door23
He may spare his courtesie.’24
‘ The gled may learn o’ the doo, Maisie ;25
I come by fair moonlicht.26
When your clan were last at my father’s yett,27
Ye cam’ at mirk midnicht.28
‘ Ye cam’ unbid at midnicht black,29
And made a red hearthstane ;30
O’ a’ that were o’ my father’s blood31
Ye left but me alane.’32
‘ Ere the tod draws to the roost, Gledha’,33
He should ken his road to go.34
My father’s step sounds on the stair ;35
My brethren watch below.’36
‘ I carena for your brethren’s spears,37
Nor for your father’s brand,38
If I must fa’ by a Crichton’s blade,39
I’ll fa’ here, where I stand.40
‘ I met you low by the water-side ;41
I met you high on the hill ;42
And there I got my deadly hurt.43
Your hand must heal or kill.44
‘ My sword lies at the rown-tree root ;45
My dirk is on the heath.46
But pu’ the pin from your hair, Maisie,47
And mak my heart its sheath.’48
‘ To shame my birth—or slay my love ;49
It is a bitter rede ! ’50
‘ You may well forsake your living kin51
When I forsake my dead.’52
He’s taen her by the middle sma’ ;53
He’s kissed her, lip and e’e.54
She’s led him down the hidden way55
Was kent to none but three.56
He’s buckled on his goodly blade57
When to the wood they wan ;58
He’s borne her safe through Eden Water,59
Though red, like blood, it ran.60
·····
‘ Hark to that eerie cry, Maisie,61
That rises from the spate ! ’62
‘ It’s but my father’s angry hounds ;63
They’re lowsed an oor owre late.’64
‘ Hark to that farawa chime, Willie,65
Comes wandering down the fell ! ’66
‘ Gin it hadna been for our bridal bed,67
’Twould saired me for my knell.’68