162 DAYS OF DEER-STALKING. 



Thither had call'd her a woful wight 

 With many a spell and mystic rite ; 

 But when he saw the witch appear, 

 That woful wight he quiver'd with fear. 



" Woful wight, now tell me true, 

 What hast thou summon'd me hither to do ? 

 Woful wight, thy answer make ; 

 I must be gone ere morning break." 



" My son was a robber so stout and so bold 

 Lo, where he lies pale, bloody, and cold ; 

 Revenge ! rev.enge I ask of thee ; 

 Oh ! grant that Lord Atholl as cold may be. 



" Atholl's earl, whose cup I bear, 

 Slew this morn my son so fair ; 

 Though a robber he was, he was dear to me, 

 So revenge ! revenge I ask of thee." 



" Now, woful wight, my counsel take, 

 And Atholl's blood thy wrath shall slake ; 

 To work him harm three spells I know, 

 But more than three I may not show. 



" These herbs of maddening power must feed 

 Ere dawn of day his favourite steed ; 

 Then soon as Lord Atholl shall touch the reins, 

 Shall the steed dash out his master's brams. 



" And if any one hears and dares betray 

 My secret ere St. Andrew's Day, 

 I'll drink his blood and crack each bone, 

 And turn the strings of his heart to stone. 



" This cup did fiends at midnight make 

 By the heat of the burning brimstone lake ; 

 In this Lord Atholl's liquor pour, 

 And if once he drinks, he'll never drink more. 



" And if any one hears and dares betray 

 My secret ere St. Andrew's Day, 

 I'll drink his blood and crack each bone, 

 And turn the strings of his heart to stone. 



" And should your foe these spells evade, 

 Then be the third and last essay'd ; 

 Nor doubt I'll glut your vengeful spite 

 With blood, ere ends to-morrow night. 



