'O wae betide my ill mither,
An ill death may she die!
She has no been the deid o' ane,
But she's been the deid of three.'
Then he's ta'en out a little dart,
Hung low down by his gore,
He thrust it through and through his heart,
And words spak never more.
369. gore] skirt, waist. 370. The Dowie Houms of Yarrow
Late at een, drinkin' the wine,
And ere they paid the lawin',
They set a combat them between,
To fight it in the dawin'.
'O stay at hame, my noble lord!
O stay at hame, my marrow!
My cruel brother will you betray,
On the dowie houms o' Yarrow.'
'O fare ye weel, my lady gay!
O fare ye weel, my Sarah!
For I maun gae, tho' I ne'er return
Frae the dowie banks o' Yarrow.'
She kiss'd his cheek, she kamed his hair,
As she had done before, O;
She belted on his noble brand,
An' he's awa to Yarrow.
370. lawin'] reckoning. marrow]
mate, husband or wife. dowie] doleful. houms] water-meads.
