Part 23

'T were a dree neet, a dree neet, for deeath to don his cowl, To staup(7) abroad wi' whimly(8) treead, to claim a gannin' sowl.

Bud laal(9) deeath recks hoo dree t' neet be, or hoo a sowl may pray, When t' sand runs oot, his sickle reaps; a gannin' sowl can't stay.

'T were a dree neet, a dree neet, ower Whinny-moor to trake,(10) Wi' shoonless feet, ower flinty steanes, thruf monny a thorny brake.

A dree neet, a dree neet, wi' nowt neaways to mark T' gainest trod(11) to t' Brig o' Deead; a lane lost sowl i' t' dark.

A dree neet, a dree neet, at t' brig foot theer to meet Laal sowls at(12) he were t' father on, wi' nea good-deame i' seet.

At t' altar steps he niver steead, thof monny a voo he made, Noo t' debt he awes to monny a lass at t' brig foot mun be paid.

They face him noo wiv other deeds, like black spots on a sheet, They noo unscape,(13) they egg him on, on t' brig his doom to meet.

Nea doves has sattled on his sill, bud a flittermoose(14) that neet Cam thrice taames thruf his casement, an' flacker'd roond his feet.

An' thrice taames did a raven croak, an' t' seame-like thrice cam t' hoot Frae t' ullets' tree; doon chimleys three there cam a shrood o' soot.

An' roond t' can'le twea taames there cam a dark-wing'd moth to t' leet, Bud t' thod(15), it swirl'd reet into t' fleame, wheer gans his sowl this neet.

'T were a dree neet, a dree neet, for yan to late(16) to pray, A dree neet, a dree neet, bud a gannin' sowl can't stay.

. . . . .

1, From R. Blakeborough's "Old Songs of the Dales," appended to his T' Hunt o' Yatton Brigg, p. 37, second edition. 2. Gloomy. 3. Thickening. 4. The literal meaning of this line is, When the death-salve bedaubs a wrinkled brow, rites such as these do not fetch (i.e. supply) one's want. The reference is to extreme unction. 5. Window shutters. 6. The hounds of death. 7. Stalk. 8. Stealthy. 9. Little. 10. Wander. 11. Shortest path. 12. That. 13. Stir up memories. 14. Bat. 15. Third. 16. Attempt.

The Bridal Bands

Traditional

From R. Blakeborough's Wit, Character, Folklore, and Customs of the North Riding, p. 97.

Blushing, theer oor Peggy sits, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Love-knots roond her braadal bands, Witchin', bewitchin'.

T' braade's maids all mun dea a stitch, Stitchin', faane stitchin', An' they mun binnd it roond her leg, Witchin', bewitchin'.

Bud some bauf(1) swain at's soond o' puff, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Will claim his reet to tak it off, Witchin', bewitchin'.

An' he aroond his awn love's leg, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Will lap(2) it roond to binnd his love, Witchin', bewitchin'.

Whal she, sweet maid, 'll wear his troth, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Maanding each taame she taks it off, Witchin', bewitchin',

That day when she will hae to wear, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Nut yan, bud twea, a braadal pair, Witchin', bewitchin'.

Oh! happy day, when she sal stitch, Stitchin', faane stitchin', Her braadal bands, the wearin' which Maks maids bewitchin'.

1 Sturdy. 2. Wrap.

The Bridal Garter(1)

A Catch

Traditional

Here's health to t' lass whea donn'd this band To grace her leg, An' ivvery garter'd braade i' t' land: Sea sip it, an' tip it, bud tip it doon your wizan.(2)