[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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THE FAIRY LADY OF DUNURE.
And a christening follow'd, so great and so grand
That the like ne'er was seen any where—
For thither were gather'd the best in the land,
And the Abbot of Crosraguel Abbey's own hand
Was to sprinkle Sir Ewart's young heir.
So, Sir Ewart stood forth with the lady and child,
As the Catholic ritual enjoin'd;
And the Abbot began—^but the babe grew so wild.
And the lady so strange, and so bitterly smil'd,
That he trembled with fear and declin'd.
The Abbot declin'd the young imp to baptize,
And the people seem'd ready to flee,
When laughter and mockery, and eldrich cries.
Through the whole of the castle were heard to arise,
From beings no mortal could see.
Now terror arose to a terrible height.
And the best of the gentlemen quak'd
ladies all scream'd, and some fainted outright.
And Sir Ewart's old mother, with shame and afliight.
Fell senseless, and never awak'd.
But the Abbot took heart, and advancing anew
To this wonderful mother and child,
The baptismal water fair o'er them he threw.
When away in a stream of blue vapour they flew.
With a sound the most frightful and wild.
Now Sir Ewart de Gaire, sadly sorrowing, sigh'd,
For he felt all his comforts were flown
And shortly thereafter from Scotland he hied,
And away in some far foreign country he died.
Bequeathing Dunure to the Crown.
This very interesting and well-written ballad is by Mr Lennox, Superintendent
of the Poor in Ayi-, a contribiitor to the former series.
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