The Twa Corbies

(SCOTTISH VERSION)

As I was walking all alane
I heard twa corbies making a mane:

The tane unto the tither did say,
‘Whar sall we gang and dine the day?’

380. corbies] ravens.

‘--In behint yon auld fail dyke
I wot there lies a new-slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there

But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.

‘His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady’s ta’en anither mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.

‘Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane,

And I’ll pike out his bonny blue e’en:
Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair
We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.

‘Mony a one for him maks mane,
But nane sall ken whar he is gane:
O’er his white banes, when they are bare,
The wind sall blaw for evermair.’

380. fail] turf. hause] neck. theek] thatch.