THE TWA CORBIES 123 



Well might Pliny, grounding his judgment, I 

 suppose, on the obviously superior intelligence of 

 the crow tribe, remark that other birds, eagles, 

 owls, woodpeckers, can give omens, but the raven 

 and his congeners alone seem to realise what the 

 omens which they give, portend. 



If you wish to hear or overhear the table-talk 

 of these birds of evil omen, go to The Twa Corbies, 

 written by that " famous poet Anon.," who used so 

 to excite one's boyish curiosity by the mystery that 

 hung over his many and varied poems, and note 

 what has been well called its "wild vigour and 

 almost fierce sincerity," 



"As I was walking all alane 

 I heard twa corbies making a mane ; 

 The tane unto the t'other say, 

 ' Where sail 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 his 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 make our dinner sweet. 



" * Ye'll sit on his white hause-bane, 

 And I'll pick out his bonny blue een ; 

 Wi' ae lock of his gowden hair 

 We'll theek our nest when it grows bare. 



