Classic Poem

O For my ain king, quo gude Wallàce,
 The rightfu king o' fair Scotland;
Between me and my Sovereign Blude
 I think I see some ill seed sawn.—

Wallàce out over yon river he lap,
 And he has lighted low down on yon plain,
And he was aware of a gay ladie,
 As she was at the well washing.—

What tydins, what tydins, fair lady, he says,
 What tydins hast thou to tell unto me;
What tydins, what tydins, fair lady, he says,
 What tydins hae ye in the South Countrie.—

Low down in yon wee Ostler house,
 There is fyfteen Englishmen,
And they are seeking for gude Wallàce,
 It's him to take and him to hang.—

There 's nocht in my purse, quo gude Wallàce,
 There 's nocht, not even a bare pennie;
But I will down to yon wee Ostler house
 Thir fyfteen Englishmen to see.—

And when he cam to yon wee Ostler house,
 He bad benedicite be there;

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Where was ye born, auld crookit Carl,
 Where was ye born, in what countrie;
I am a true Scot born and bred,
 And an auld, crookit carl just sic as ye see.—

I wad gie fyfteen shilling to onie crookit carl,
 To onie crookit carl just sic as ye,
If ye will get me gude Wallàce,
 For he is the man I wad very fain see.—

He hit the proud Captain alang the chafft-blade,
 That never a bit o' meat he ate mair;
And he sticket the rest at the table where they sat,
 And he left them a' lyin sprawlin there.—

Get up, get up, gudewife, he says,
 And get to me some dinner in haste;
For it will soon be three lang days
 Sin I a bit o' meat did taste.—

The dinner was na weel readie,
 Nor was it on the table set,
Till other fyfteen Englishmen
 Were a' lighted about the yett.—

Come out, come out now, gude Wallàce,
 This is the day that thou maun die;
I lippen nae sae little to God, he says,
 Altho' I be but ill wordie.—

The gudewife had an auld gudeman,
 By gude Wallàce he stiffly stood,
Till ten o' the fyfteen Englishmen
 Before the door lay in their blude.—

The other five to the greenwood ran,
 And he hang'd these five upon a grain:
And on the morn wi' his merry men a'
 He sat at dine in Lochmaben town.—