Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/466

 They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely ane, When word came to the carline wife That her three sons were gane.

They hadna been a week from her, A week but barely three, When word came to the carline wife That her sons she'd never see.

'I wish the wind may never cease. Nor fashes in the flood, Till my three sons come hame to me, In earthly flesh and blood!'

It fell about the Martinmas, When nights are lang and mirk, The carline wife's three sons came hame, And their hats were o' the birk.

It neither grew in syke nor ditch, Nor yet in ony sheugh; But at the gates o' Paradise That birk grew fair eneugh.

'Blow up the fire, my maidens! Bring water from the well! For a' my house shall feast this night, Since my three sons are well.'

And she has made to them a bed, She's made it large and wide; And she's ta'en her mantle her about, Sat down at the bedside.

fashes] troubles. syke] marsh. sheugh] trench.