70 BALLADS
'Where be ye gaun, ye marshal men? ' Quo' fause Sakelde; 'come tell me true! '
'We go to catch a rank reiver
Has broken faith wi' the bold Buccleuch.'
'Where are ye gaun, ye mason lads,
Wi' a' your ladders lang and hie? ' 'We gang to herry a corbie's nest
That wons not far frae Woodhouselee.'
'Where be ye gaun, ye broken men? ' Quo' fause Sakelde; 'come tell to me!'
Now Dickie of Dryhope led that band, And the never a word of lear had he.
'Why trespass ye on the English side?
Row-footed outlaws, stand!' quo' he; The never a word had Dickie to say,
Sae he thrust the lance through his fause bodie.
Then on we held for Carlisle toun,
And at Staneshaw-Bank the Eden we crossed;
The water was great and meikle of spait, But the never a horse nor man we lost.
And when we reached the Staneshaw-Bank,
The wind was rising loud and hie; And there the Laird garred leave our steeds,
For fear that they should stamp and neigh.
And when we left the Staneshaw-Bank,
The wind began full loud to blaw; But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet,
When we came beneath the castle wa'.
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