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

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THE WARLOCK LAIED OF FAIL.
Sir Thomas* alighted at the door
Before the Laird of Fail,
" And will ye gie me, guidwife," quo' he,
" A drink of your shearers' ale"
" I will gie thee. Sir Thomas," quo' she,
" A drink o' my shearers' ale;
But gude be here, how I sweat with feai".
At sight of the Laird of Fail !"
" What sees auld lucky the Laird about
That may not be seen on me
His beard so long, so bushy and strong,
Sure need not affrighten thee !"
" Though all his face were cover'd with hair,
It never would daunton me
But young and old have oft heard it told,
That a warlock wight is he.
" He caused the death of my braw milk cow,
And did not his blasting e'e
Bewitch my bairn, cowp many a kirn,
And gaur my auld doggie die "
Sir Thomas came out and told the Laird
The gudewife's tremour mthin;
" Now Laird," said he, " that sport we may sec.
Come put in the merry pin."
" If ye want sport. Sir Thomas," quo' he,
" I wat ye's no want it long;
This crusty gudewife, upon my life,
Shall gie us a dance and a song."
He put then a pin aboon the door.
And said some mysterious thing;
* Sir Hugh it probably ought to have been.
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