Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/81

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THE DAWN
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of substance that fallis to me. And he departit to thame the substance. 13. And nocht mony dais eftire, quhen al thingis war gaderit togiddire, the yonngar sonn went furth in pilgrimage into a ferr cuntree, and thare he wastit his gudis in leving licherouslie. 14. And eftir that he had endit al thingis, a stark hungire was made in that cuntree; and he began to haue need. 15. And he went and drew him to aan of the citezenis of that cuntree; and he send him into his town to fede swyne. 16. And he couatit to fill his wambe of the coddis that the hoggis ete: and na man gave to him. 17. And he turnit agane into himself, and said, How mony hyretmen in my fadris hous has plentee of laaues, and I peryse here throu hungir. 18. I sal ryse up and ga to my fadere, and I sal say to him, Fader, I haue synnyt into heuen and before thee, 19. And now I am nocht worthie to be callit thi sonn: mak me as aan of thi hyret 20. And he rase up, and com to his fader. And quhen he was yit on fer (afar), his fadere saw him, and was mouet be mercy, and he ran, and fell on his neck, and kissit him. 21. And the sonn said to him, Fader, I haue synnyt into heuen, and before thee, and now I am nocht worthie to be callit thi 22. And the fadere said to his seruandis, Suythe bring ye furthe the first stole, and cleithe ye him; and geue ye a ryng in his hand, and schoon on his feet; 23. And bring ye a fat calf, and sla ye; and ete we, and mak we feest: 24. For this my sonn was deid, and has leeuet agane; he peryset, and is fundin. And almen began to ete. 25. Bot his eldar sonn was in the feeld; and quhen he com and nerit to the hous, he herde a symphony and a croude. 26. And he callit aan of the seruandis, and askit quhat thir thingis war. 27. And he said to him, Thy bruther is cummin; and thi fadere has slayn a fat calf, for he resauet him saaf. 28. And he was wrathe, and wald nocht cum in. Tharfor his fadere yede furthe, and began to pray him. 29. And he ansuered to his fadere, and said, Lo, sa mony yeris I serue thee, and I brak neuir thi comandment; and thou neuir gaue to me a kidde, that I with my freendis suld haue eten. 30. Bot eftir that this thi sonn, that has destroyit his substance with huris com, thou has slayn to him a fat calf. 31. And he said to him, Sonn, thou art euirmaire with me, and al my thingis are thin. 32. Bot it behuvit to mak feest and to