Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/430

 'O wha is this has done this deed And tauld the king o' me, To send us out, at this time o' year, To sail upon the sea?

'Be it wind, be it weet, be it hail, be it sleet, Our ship must sail the faem; The king's daughter o' Noroway, 'Tis we must fetch her hame.'

They hoysed their sails on Monenday morn Wi' a' the speed they may; They hae landed in Noroway Upon a Wodensday.

II. The Return

'Mak ready, mak ready, my merry men a'; Our gude ship sails the morn.' 'Now ever alack, my master dear, I fear a deadly storm.

'I saw the new moon late yestreen Wi' the auld moon in her arm; And if we gang to sea, master, I fear we'll come to harm.'

They hadna sail'd a league, a league, A league but barely three, When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud, And gurly grew the sea.

The ankers brak, and the topmast lap, It was sic a deadly storm: And the waves cam owre the broken ship Till a' her sides were torn.

lift] sky. lap] sprang.