Up and spak an eldern knight, Sat at the king's right knee: "Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor, That sails upon the sea." The king has written a braid1 letter, The first line that Sir Patrick read, The next line that Sir Patrick read, The tear blinded his ee. "O wha is this has done this deed, This ill deed done to me, To send me out this time o' the year, To sail upon the sea! "Mak haste, mak haste, my merry men all, Our guid ship sails the morn:" "O say na sae, my master dear, For I fear a deadlie storm. "Late late yestreen I saw the new moon, And I fear, I fear, my dear master, O our Scots nobles were right loth, O lang, lang may the ladies sit, O lang, lang may the ladies stand, Half o'er, half o'er to Aberdour, Its fifty fathom deep, And there lies guid Sir Patrick Spens, THE TWA CORBIES 1 As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies making a mane:2 The tane unto the tither did say, "Whar sall we gang and dine the day?" 5 10 15 20 25 30 30 35 35 40 Thus was the hunting of the Cheviot: God send us all good ending! SIR PATRICK SPENS The king sits in Dumferling town, ❝ Borders. * Trouble. 280 "In behint yon auld fail3 dyke, I wot there lies a new-slain knight; "His hound is to the hunting gane, His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady's ta'en anither mate, Sae we may mak' our dinner sweet. 1 Open, patent. 48 Fought. $1 Better our ills. 5 10 |