Classic Poem

In imitation of John B ARBOUR .

Q UHY screim the crowis owr yonder wud,
With loude and clamourynge dynne,
Haf deifenynge the torrentis roare,
Quhilk dashis owr yon linne?

Quhy straye the flokis far outowr,
Alang the stanery lee,
And wil nocht graze anear the wud,
Thof ryche the pasturis be?

And quhy dis oft the sheipherdis dog,
Gif that ane lamikyne straye,
Aye yamf and yowl besyde the wud,
Nae farthir yn wil gaye?

" Marvil thee nocht at quhat thou seist, "
The tremblynge rusticke sayde;
" For yn that feindis-hauntet wud,
Hath guiltlesse blude been sched.

" Thou seist far down yon buschye howe,
An eldrin castil greye,
Witht teth of tyme, and weir of wyndis,
Fast mouldiryng yn decaye.

" 'Twas ther the jealous Barrone livit,
Witht Lady Anne hys wyfe,
He fleichit her neatht that wudis dark glume,
And revit hyr ther of lyffe.

" And eir hyr fayre bodye was founde,
The flesch cam fra the bane,
The snailis sat feistyng onne hyr cheikis,
The spydiris velit her ein.

" And evir syne nae beist nor byrde
Will byde twa nichtis ther,
For fearful yellis and screichis wylde
Are heird throch nicht sae dreir. "