Part 12

* * * *

The morn McLean rade forth to see The last blink o’ his Queen, There stude her ship in the harbour gude, Upon the water green.

But there cam’ a crash like a thunder-clap, And a cloud on the water green. The bonny ship in flinders flew, And drooned was the bonny Queen.

McLean he speirit nor gude nor bad, His skian dubh he’s ta’en, And he’s cuttit the throat o’ that fause foot-page, And sundered his white hausebane.

Keith of Craigentolly.

O KEITH o’ Craigentolly! Ye sall live to rue the day When ye brak the berried holly Beside St. Andrew’s bay! When Pitcullo’s kine Card down to the brine, And were drooned in the driving spray!

In the bower o’ Craigentolly Is a wan and waefu’ bride, Singing, O waly! waly! Through the whole country side; And a river to wade For a dying maid, And a weary way to ride!

O Keith o’ Craigentolly, The bairn’s grave by the sea! O Keith o’ Craigentolly, The graves of maidens three! And a bluidy shift, And a sainless shrift, For Keith o’ Craigentolly!

* * * * *

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTES

{11} One verse and the refrain are of 1750 or thereabouts. At Laffen, where William, Duke of Cumberland, was defeated and nearly captured by the Scots and Irish in the French service, Prince Charles is said to have served as a volunteer.

{32} So Nyren tells us.