The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie [seal
I
An earthly nourrice sits and sings, [nurse
And aye she sings, 'Ba, lily wean!
Little ken I my bairn's father,
Far less the land that he staps in.' [stops=dwells
II
Then ane arose,at her bed-fit, [foot
An' a grumly guest I'm sure was he: [grim
'Here am I, thy bairn's father,
Although that I be not comelie.
III
I am a man, upo' the lan',
An' I am a silkie in the sea;
And when I'm far and far frae lan',
My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie.'
IV
'It was na weel,' quo' the maiden fair, [not well
'It was na weel, indeed,' quo' she,
That the Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie
Suld hae come and aught a bairn to me.' [owned
V
Now he has ta'en a purse of goud,
And he has pat it upo' her knee,
Sayin', 'Gie to me my little young son,
An' tak thee up thy nourrice-fee.
VI
'An' it sall pass on a simmer's day,
When the sin shines het on evera stane, [sun; hot
That I will tak my little young son,
An' teach him for to swim his lane. [alone
VII
'An' thu sall marry a proud gunner,
An' a proud gunner I'm sure he'll be,
An' the very first schot that ere he shoots,
He'll schoot baith my young son and me.'
Back to index