Page:Cherrie and the slae.pdf/26

14

To climb that craig it was nae buit, Let be to press to pull the fruit,
 * In top of all the tree;

I saw nae way whereby to come By ony craft to get it clum,
 * Appearandly to me;

The craig was ugly, stay and dreigh, The tree lang, sound and small, I was afraid to climb sae hich,
 * For fear to fetch a fall;
 * Affrayit to say it,
 * I looked up aloft,
 * Whiles minting, whiles stinting,
 * My purpose changed oft.

Then Dread, with Danger and Despair Forbade my minting ony mair
 * To rax aboon my reach.

What! tush (quoth Courage) man, go to He is but daft that hath to do,
 * And spares for every speech:

For I have oft heard sooth-men say,
 * And we may scc't oursells,

That fortune helps the hardy aye,
 * But poltroons aye repells:
 * Then fear nocht, nor hear nocht,
 * Dreid, Danger, nor Despair,
 * To fazards, hard hazards
 * Is death ere they come there.