The heir of Linne is full of gold: And come with me, my friends, said he, Let's drink, and rant, and merry make, And he that spares, ne'er mote he thee.* They ranted, drank, and merry made, And then his friends they slunk away; He had never a penny left in his purse, And one was brass, another was lead, Now well-a-day, said the heir of Linne, For when I was the lord of Linne, But many a trusty friend have I, And why should I feel grief or care? I'll borrow of them all by turns, So need I not be never bare. But one, I wis, was not at home; Another had paid his gold away; Another called him thriftless loon, And bade him sharply wend his way. Now well-a-day, said the heir of Linne, To beg my bread from door to door To rob and steal it were a sin To work my limbs I cannot frame. Now I'll away to lonesome lodge, For there my father bade me wend; When all the world should frown on me, I there should find a trusty friend. WAY then hied the heir of Linne O'er hill and holt, and moor and fen, Until he came to lonesome lodge, That stood so low in a lonely glen. He looked up, he looked down, In hope some comfort for to win: But bare and loathly were the walls. Here's sorry cheer, quo' the heir of Linne. The little window dim and dark Was hung with ivy, brier, and yew; No shimmering sun here ever shone; No wholesome breeze here ever blew. No chair nor table he mote spy, No cheerful hearth, no welcome bed, Nought save a rope with running noose, That dangling hung up o'er his head. And over it in broad lettèrs, These words were written plain to see: "Ah! graceless wretch, hast spent thine all, And brought thyself to penury? "All this my boding mind misgave, * Sorely shent wi' this rebuke, Sorely shent was the heir of Linne; His heart, I wis, was near to burst With guilt and sorrow, shame and sin. Never a word spake the heir of Linne, Never a word he spake but three: This is a trusty friend indeed, And is right welcome unto me. Then round his neck the cord he drew, Astonished lay the heir of Linne, Nor knew if he were live or dead: He took the bill, and looked it on, It told him of a hole in the wall, In which there stood three chests in-fere.t Two were full of the beaten gold, The third was full of white money; And over them in broad letters These words were written so plain to see: "Once more, my son, I set thee clear; Amend thy life and follies past; For but thou amend thee of thy life, That rope must be thy end at last." * Writing. + Together. |