Page:The Lady of the Lake - Scott (1810).djvu/386

"Hear thou, Gudeman o' Villenshaw,
 What now I say to thee;
Wha bade thee bigg within our bounds,
 Without the leave o' me?

17.
"But, an thou in our bounds will bigg,
 And bide, as well as may be,
Then thou thy dearest huswife maun
 To me for a lemman gie.

18.
Up spak the luckless busbande then,
 As God the grace bim gae:
"Eline she is to me sae dear,
 Her thou may na-gate hae."

19.
Till the Elf he answer'd as he couth:
 "Lat but my huswife be,
And tak whate'er o' gude or gear
 Is mine, awa wi' thee."

20.
"Then I'll thy Eline tak and thee
 Aneath my feet to tread;
And hide thy goud and white monie
 Aneath my dwalling-stead."

21.
The husbande and his househald a'
 In sary rede they join :
"Far better that she be now forfairn,
 Nor that we a' should tyne."

22.
Up, will of rede, the husbande stood,
Wi' heart fu' sad and sair;
And he has gien his huswife Eline
Wi' the young Elf to fare.