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| FROWN’D 1 the Laird on the Lord: “So, red-handed I catch thee? | |
| Death-doom’d by our Law of the Border! | |
| We ’ve a gallows outside and a chiel to dispatch thee: | |
| Who trespasses—hangs: all ’s in order.” | |
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| He met frown with smile, did the young English gallant: | 5 |
| Then the Laird’s dame: “Nay, Husband, I beg! | |
| He ’s comely: be merciful! Grace for the callant | |
| —If he marries our Muckle-mouth Meg!” | |
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| “No mile-wide-mouth’d monster of yours do I marry: | |
| Grant rather the gallows!” laugh’d he. | 10 |
| “Foul fare kith and kin of you—why do you tarry?” | |
| “To tame your fierce temper!” quoth she. | |
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| “Shove him quick in the Hole, shut him fast for a week: | |
| Cold, darkness, and hunger work wonders: | |
| Who lion-like roars now, mouse-fashion will squeak, | 15 |
| And ‘it rains’ soon succeed to ‘it thunders.’” | |
| |
| A week did he bide in the cold and dark | |
| —Not hunger: for duly at morning | |
| In flitted a lass, and a voice like a lark | |
| Chirp’d, “Muckle-mouth Meg still ye ’re scorning? | 20 |
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| “Go hang, but here ’s parritch to hearten ye first!” | |
| “Did Meg’s muckle-mouth boast within some | |
| Such music as yours, mine should match it or burst: | |
| No frog-jaws! So tell folk, my Winsome!” | |
| |
| Soon week came to end, and, from Hole’s door set wide, | 25 |
| Out he march’d, and there waited the lassie: | |
| “Yon gallows, or Muckle-mouth Meg for a bride! | |
| Consider! Sky’s blue and turf’s grassy: | |
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| “Life’s sweet; shall I say ye wed Muckle-mouth Meg?” | |
| “Not I,” quoth the stout heart: “too eerie | 30 |
| The mouth that can swallow a bubblyjock’s egg: | |
| Shall I let it munch mine? Never, dearie! | |
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| “Not Muckle-mouth Meg? Wow, the obstinate man! | |
| Perhaps he would rather wed me!” | |
| “Ay, would he—with just for a dowry your can!” | 35 |
| “I ’m Muckle-mouth Meg,” chirp’d she. | |
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| “Then so—so—so—so—” as he kiss’d her apace— | |
| “Will I widen thee out till thou turnest | |
| From Margaret Minnikin-mou’, by God’s grace, | |
| To Muckle-mouth Meg in good earnest!” | 40 |
