Page:Posthumous poems (IA posthumousswinb00swin).pdf/62

THE WORM OF SPINDLESTONHEUGH

Lady Helen sat in Spindlestonheugh
 With gold across her hair;
For every plait was on her head,
 I wot a gold piece was there.

Lady Helen sat in Spindlestonheugh
 With gold across her head;
The green gown on her fair body
 Was woven with gold thread.

Lady Helen sat in Spindlestonheugh
 Wi' silk below her breast;
The best pearl in the queen's girdle
 Was lesser than her least,

 Lady Helen sat in Spindlestonheugh
With silk upon her feet;
 The seams were sewn wi' cloth of scarlet
To keep them frae the weet.

"O wha will keep the keys for me
 Until the lord be hame?
Or wha will ca' his kye for me,
 To see gin ony be lame?"

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