Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

THE SCOTTISH BORDER.
NOTES
THE WATER KELPIE.
39'
The fisher s houpforgat to hup.—P. 389. v. 2.
The fishes, the hope of the angler, no more rose to the fly.
And aivfor rest made boun.—P. 389. v. 2.
All commonly occurs in our old writers. But aw is here
used, as corresponding with the general pronunciation in Scotland
; especially as it has the authority of Dunbar, in his Lament
for the Deth of the Makaris.
His fo?'m a gaist uprear'd.—P. 389. v. 3.
It is believed in Angus, that the Spirit of the Waters appears
sometimes as a man, with a very frightful aspect ; and, at other
times, as a horse. The description, here given, must therefore
be viewed as the offspring of fancy. All that can be said for it
is, that such attributes are selected as are appropriate to the
scenery.
Twa huge horse-mussels glar'd.—P. 390. v. 1.
South-Esk abounds Avith the fresh- water oyster, vulgarly
called the horse-mussel ; and, in former times, a pearl fishery
was carried on here to a considerable extent.