“ An’ by that flame, frae hallie kirk
⁠The laird’s rich gifts were thrown;
While sprites of ancient kith an’ kin,
⁠Thus sang in waefu’ tone—
"Sin’ Heav'n denies thee an’ thy wealth,
⁠Sae surelie too shall we:
For thoch thou be our ain brither,
⁠We hate all perjurie! ”

“ The circumstances having caused judicial inquiry, the laird, to exculpate himself, charged one of his own hinds with the perpetration of the murder, for which, in those days when "might was right," the poor man was hanged. The fact was however traditionally transmitted, and the particulars, as related in the ballad, obtained a general belief among the peasantry, viz., that, till the conjurations of the miller, the boy had wandered under the murky cloud of night, between the kirk of Pert, and an old ford in the river below the North-water bridge. ”

“ While her poor mither lives—we daurna say how!
But Nancy was train’d up in Modesty’s ways,
And in paths little kent to the young now-a-days,
Where Truth an’ Religion are sweetly combin’d,
As guides to our actions, an’ lights to our mind!
Should Nancy be frank, as I doubtna she’ll be—
(But that ye may guess by the glance o’ her e’e) ,
You snould aften gae inwith, an’ speir how she fens—
Ye’ll aiblins be lucky—there’s naebody kens! ”