WILLIAM BELL SCOTT

There was Father Auld himseP, The Lombard frae the hostelry, And the lawyer Peter Fell.

All goodly men we singled out,

Waled them well, and singled out, And drew them by the left hand in ; Mysie the priest, and Elspie won The Lombard, Nort the lawyer carle, I mysel' the provost's son.

Then, with cantrip kisses seven,

Three times round with kisses seven, Warp'd and woven there spun we Arms and legs and flaming hair, Like a whirlwind on the sea.

Like a wind that sucks the sea, Over and in and on the sea, Good sooth it was a mad delight; And every man of all the four Shut his eyes and laugh'd outright.

Laugh'd as long as they had breath,

Laugh'd while they had sense or breath; And close about us coil'd a mist Of gnats and midges, wasps and flies, Like the whirlwind shaft it rist.

Drawn up I was right off my feet,

Into the mist and off my feet; And, dancing on each chimney-top, I saw a thousand darling imps Keeping time with skip and hop.

waled] chose. cantrip] magic.

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