Syne bad him slip frae 'mang the folk, [Then]
Sometime when nae ane see'd him, [saw]
An' try't that night.

He marches thro' amang the stacks,
Tho' he was something sturtin'; [staggering]
The graip he for a harrow taks, [dung-fork]
An' haurls at his curpin: [trails, back]
An' ev'ry now an' then, he says,
'Hemp-seed! I saw thee,
An' her that is to be my lass
Come after me an' draw thee
As fast this night.'

He whistled up Lord Lennox' march,
To keep his courage cheery;
Altho' his hair began to arch,
He was sae fley'd an' eerie: [scared, awe-struck]
Till presently he hears a squeak,
An' then a grane an' gruntle; [groan]
He by his shouther gae a keek, [shoulder gave, peep]
An' tumbl'd wi' a wintle [summersault]
Out-owre that night.

He roar'd a horrid murder-shout,
In dreadfu' desperation!
An' young an' auld come rinnin' out,
An' hear the sad narration:
He swoor 'twas hilchin Jean M'Craw, [halting]
Or crouchie Merran Humphie, [hunchbacked Marian]