The Tower of St. Maur
"I dare not speak the spell, St. Maur,
Lest you should do me an ill.
For a cruel spell, and an evil spell.
Is the spell that works your will."
"There's no spell but I'll risk it, man,
An' the price were half my lands —
To keep my wife and children safe
Out of Lord Armour's hands."
"O, more than lands, and more than fee,
You'll pay me for the spell "
"An' the price were half my heart's red blood,
I'd pay it down as well."
"O what's the blood of a sinful heart
To bind the stones that fall ?
St. Maur, you'll build your christened child
Alive into the wall."
St. Maur has turned on his heel so light,
And angry he turns away:
"Gang to the devil another time
When ye ask what ye ask to-day."
He's ta'en his young son by the hand —
He's opened wide the gate,
"Your mother's been sick a month by now,
And she'll mourn sore if we're late."
They had not gone a little way,
An' the child began to call —
"See how the flood runs high, father,
And washes at the wall!"
They had not gone a mickle way,
St. Maur began to brood,
"'Tis the bugle cry of Armour,
Shrill over stream and wood."
268
