A Free-Booter, taken in a Border Battle, and condemned to be
Executed.
Fareweel my ingle, bleezing bright
When the snell storm’s begun;
My bouris casements aw sae light,
When glints the bonnie sun!
Fareweel my deep glen, speck’d wi’ sloe,
O’ tangled hazles full;
Green leas and heathery hills, where low
My kine and glourin bull.
Fareweel my red deer, jutting proud,
My rooks, o’ murky wing!
Fareweel my wee birds, lilting loud,
Aw in the merry Spring!
Fareweel my sheep, that sprattle on,
In a lang line, sae braw,
Or lie on cliffs, the rocks aboon,
Like late-left patch o’ snaw.
Fareweel my burn, that wimpling rins,
My clattering brig o’ yew!
My scaly tribe, wi’ gowden fins,
Sae nimbly flickering through!
Fareweel my boat, and lusty oars,
That skelp wi’ miekle spray!
Fareweel my braes on Tiviot shores,
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,
And ilka star was smoor’d!
Maist dear for a’ ye shared wi’ me
When scaith and prey did goad,
And danger, like a wraith, did flee
Along the darksome road.
Fareweel my winsome wife, sae gay,
Fu’ fain frae hame to gang,
Wi’ spunky lads to geck and play,
The flowrie haughs among!
Fareweel my gowk! thy warning note
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,
Or e’er I hanged be,
Would I might learn if true thou said’st
When sae thou said’st to me!