The Twa Corbies

[13. Traditional Ballads]

As [1] I was walking all alane,

I heard two corbies making a mane;

The tane unto the t’ other say,

“Where sall we gang and dine to-day?”

“In behint yon auld fail [2] dyke,

I wot [3] there lies a new slain knight;

And naebody kens [4] that he lies there,

But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair.

“His hound is to the hunting gane,

His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,

His lady’s ta’en another mate,

So we may mak our dinner sweet.

“Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane, [5]

And I’ll pike out his bonny blue een;

Wi ae lock o his gowden hair

We’ll theek [6] our nest when it grows bare.

“Mony a one for him makes mane, [7]

But nane sall ken where he is gane;

Oer his white banes when they are bare,

The wind sall blaw for evermair.”

[1. Crows.]

[2. Turf.]

[3. Know.]

[4. Knows.]

[5. Neck-bone.]

[6. Thatch.]

[7. Moan.]