Page:Monk and the miller's wife (4).pdf/2

 But, clack-clack-clack,' he heard a mill,

Walk led him by the langs theretill,

This mill to Halbert did belang;

Not less this note your notice claims,

The scholar's name was glaister James.

Now, smilin’ muse the prelude past,

Smoothly relate a tale shall last

As lang as Alps an’ Grampian hills

As lang as win’ or water mills.

In enter’d James, Hab saw and kend him,

And offer’d kindly to befriend him

Wi' sic gude chcer as he cou'd make

Baith for his ain and father's sake.

The scholar thought himseľ right sped,

An' gae him thanks in terms weel bred,

Quoth Hab, I canna leave my,mill

As yet;—but step ye west the kill

A bowshot, an' yo'l fin my hame:

Gae warm ye' an' crack wi' our dame,

Till I set aff the mill, syne we

Shall tak what Bessy, has to gie.

James in return, what's handsome said,

O'er lang to tell; an' aff he gade.

Out o' the house some liglat did shine,

Whilk led him tillt as wa' a line:

Arriv'd he knock'd, for doors were steekit;

Straight thro' a window Bessy, keekit,

An cries, "Wha's that gie's fowk a fright,

At sic untimeous time o' night ?”

James, with good humour, maist discreetly,

Tald her his circumstance completely,

‘I dinna ken ye,” quoth the wife,

‘And up and down the thieves are rife;