The Twa Corbies
Anonymous, 1600

As I was walking all alane
     I heard twa corbies making a mane;
     The tane unto the t'other say,
     "Where sall we gang and dine to-day?"

     "--In behint yon auld fail dyke,
     I wot there lies a new-slain Knight;
     And naebody kens that he lies there,
     But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair.

     "His hound is to the hunting gane,
     His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
     His lady's ta'en another mate,
     So we may mak our dinner sweet.

     "Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane,
     And I'll pick out his bonny blue een:
     Wi' ae lock o' his gowden hair
     We'll theek our nest when it grows bare.

     "Mony a one for him makes mane,
     But nane sall ken where he is gane;
     O'er his white banes, when they are bare,
     The wind sall blaw for evermair."