Ancient Scottish ballads, recovered from tradition, and never before ...

42
Up bespak the niest forester,
The niest forester of a*
—
" An this be Johnie Cocklesmuir,
To him we winna draw, draw,
To him we winna draw."
The- first shot that they did shoot,
They woundit him on the thie; #
Up bespak the uncle's son,
" The niest will gar him die, die,
The niest will gar him die."
" Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,
Stand stout and dinna flee;
Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,
And we will mak them die, die,
And we will mak them die."
He has killed six o' the proud foresters,
And wounded the seventh sair;
He laid his leg out owre his steed,
Says, " I will kill na mair, mair,
Says, " I will kill na mair."
* Thie—thigh.