NOTES TO CANTO FOURTH.
371
23.
Then blyth grew he, and sprang about;
He took her in his arm:
The rud it left her comely cheek;
Her heart was clem'd wi' harm.
Then blyth grew he, and sprang about;
He took her in his arm:
The rud it left her comely cheek;
Her heart was clem'd wi' harm.
24.
A waefu' woman than she was ane,
And the moody tears loot fa':
"God rew on me, unseely wife,
How hard a wierd I fa!
A waefu' woman than she was ane,
And the moody tears loot fa':
"God rew on me, unseely wife,
How hard a wierd I fa!
25.
"My fay I plight to the fairest wight
That man on mold mat see;
Maun I now mell wi' a laidly El,
His light lemman to be?"
"My fay I plight to the fairest wight
That man on mold mat see;
Maun I now mell wi' a laidly El,
His light lemman to be?"
26.
He minted ance—he minted twice,
Wae wax'd her heart that syth:
Syne the laidliest fiend he grew that e'er
To mortal ee did kyth.
He minted ance—he minted twice,
Wae wax'd her heart that syth:
Syne the laidliest fiend he grew that e'er
To mortal ee did kyth.
27.
When he the thirden time can mint,
To Mary's son she pray'd,
And the laidly elf was clean awa,
And a fair knight in his stead.
When he the thirden time can mint,
To Mary's son she pray'd,
And the laidly elf was clean awa,
And a fair knight in his stead.
28.
This fell under a linden green,
That again his shape he found;
O' wae and care was the word nae mair,
A' were sae glad that stound.
This fell under a linden green,
That again his shape he found;
O' wae and care was the word nae mair,
A' were sae glad that stound.
29.
"O dearest Eline, hear thou this,
And thou my wife sal be,
And a' the goud in merry England
Sae freely I'll gie thee.
"O dearest Eline, hear thou this,
And thou my wife sal be,
And a' the goud in merry England
Sae freely I'll gie thee.
