Volume 3 — BALLAD IN THE ANCIENT SCOTCH DIALECT, AULD WILLIE’S FAREWELL, A Free-Booter, taken in a Border Battle, and condemned to be Executed.[157]

Fareweel my ingle, bleezing bright[158] When the snell storm’s begun;[159] My bouris casements aw sae light,[160] When glints the bonnie sun! Fareweel my deep glen, speck’d wi’ sloe, O’ tangled hazles full; Green leas and heathery hills, where low[161] My kine and glourin bull.[162] Fareweel my red deer, jutting proud, My rooks, o’ murky wing! Fareweel my wee birds, lilting loud,[163] Aw in the merry Spring! Fareweel my sheep, that sprattle on, In a lang line, sae braw,[164] Or lie on cliffs, the rocks aboon,[165] Like late-left patch o’ snaw. Fareweel my burn, that wimpling rins,[166] My clattering brig o’ yew! My scaly tribe, wi’ gowden fins, Sae nimbly flickering through![167] Fareweel my boat, and lusty oars, That skelp wi’ miekle spray![168] Fareweel my braes on Tiviot shores,[169] That cool the Simmer’s day! Fareweel my neighbours, whase swift steed O’er Saxon bounds ha’ scower’d, Soom’d drumlie floods when moons were dead,[170][171] And ilka star was smoor’d![172] Maist dear for a’ ye shared wi’ me When scaith and prey did goad,[173] And danger, like a wraith, did flee[174] Along the darksome road. Fareweel my winsome wife, sae gay,[175] Fu’ fain frae hame to gang, Wi’ spunky lads to geck and play,[176] The flowrie haughs among![177] Fareweel my gowk! thy warning note[178] Then aft-times ca’ed aloud, Tho’ o’ the word that swal’d thy throat, Gude faith, I was na’ proud. And pawky gowk, sae free that maid’st,[179] Or e’er I hanged be, Would I might learn if true thou said’st When sae thou said’st to me!