Page:The Poetical Works of William Motherwell, 1849.djvu/470



' nicht is mirk, and the wind blaws schill, And the white faem weets my bree, And my mind misgi'es me, gay maiden, That the land we sail never see!' Then up and spak' the mermaiden, And she spak' blythe and free, 'I never said to my bonnie bridegroom, That on land we sud weddit be.

'Oh! I never said that ane erthlie priest Our bridal blessing should gi'e, And I never said that a landwart bouir Should hauld my love and me.' 'And whare is that priest, my bonnie maiden, If ane erthlie wicht is na he?' 'Oh! the wind will sough, and the sea will rair, When weddit we twa sail be.'

'And whare is that bouir, my bonnie maiden, If on land it sud na be?' 'Oh! my blythe bouir is low,' said the mermaiden, 'In the bonnie green howes of the sea: