712 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
iug how this boulder came from Bennachie forms the subject of 
ballad,* a few verses of which may be given, 
“ It was the feast o’ Sanct Barnabas, 
I’ the merry month o’ June, 
When the woods are a’ i’ their green livery, 
And the wild birds a’ in tune ; 
“ And the priest o’ Kemnay has gaen to the kirk, 
And prayed an earnest prayer, 
That Satan might for aye be bund 
To his dark and byrnand lair. 
sl And aye the haly organ rang, 
And the sounds rose higher, higher, 
Till they reached the Fiend on Bennachie, 
And he bit his nails for ire. 
“ And he lookit east, and he lookit west, 
And he lookit aboon, beneath; 
But nocht could he see save the haul’ grey rocks 
That glower’d out through the heath, 
“ He lifted aloft a ponderous rock, 
And hurl’d it through the air ; 
‘ Twere pity ye sud want reward 
For sae devout a prayer ! ’ 
“ The miller o’ Kemnay cries to his knave, 
‘ Lift up the back sluice, loon ! 
For a cloud comes o’er frae Bennachie 
Eneuch the mill to droon.’ 
“ The boatman hurries his boat ashore, 
And fears he’ll be o’er late ; 
Gif yon black cloud come doon in rain, 
It’s fit to raise a spate. 
“ But the ponderous rock came on and on. 
Well aimed for Kemnay Kirk ; 
And cross’d it field, or cross’d it flood, 
Its shadow gar’d a’ grow mirk. 
4< But the fervent prayers o’ the haly priest. 
And the power o’ the Sanct Anne, 
They turn’d the murderous rock aside. 
And foil’d the foul Fiend’s plan. 
* From “ Flights of Fancy and Lays of Bon Accord.” By William Cadenhead 
Aberdeen. Edinburgh : Oliver and Boyd, 1853. 
