Page:Heir of Linne, an old ballad.pdf/4

 He hadna a penny left in’s purse,

never a penny left but three;

The ane was brass, the tother lead,

the third was of the white monie.

Now well-a-day,’ said the Heir of Linne,

‘ now well-a-day, and woe is me;

‘ For when I was the Lord of Linne,

' I never wanted gold or see:

‘But mony a trusty friend have I,

and why should I feel dole or care?

‘I’ll borrow of them all by turns,

‘sae need I not be ever bare.’

But ane, I wot, was not at hame;

the next had paid his go’d away;

Another call’d him thriftless loon,

and sharply bad him wend his way.

Now well-a-day,’ said the Heir of Linne,

‘ now well a day and woe is me;

For when I had my lands sae bread,

‘ on me they liv’d right merrilie.

' To beg my bread from door to door,

‘ I’m sure, ’twould be a burning shame:

‘ To rob and steal would be a sin;

‘ to work my limbs I cannot frame.

‘Now I’ll away to lonesome lodge,

‘for there my father bad me wend,

'When all the world should frown on me.

'I there should find a trusty friend.’

Away then hied the heir of Linne,

o’er hill and holt and muir and fen.

Till he came to the lonesome lodge;

that stood so low into a glen.