By Loch and by Lin Read Online Free PDF

steed of great renown, King Henry’s very favorite, Wanton Brown?” asked the Lochmaben harper.
    â€œOch,” sighed Sir John. “’Tis a noble beast. And worth his weight in gold, at the least. I’ve ne’er laid eyes upon him myself.”
    â€œNor I,” said Sir Charles. “But I’m telling you true. ’Tis what I would like to do.”
    â€œSo I would, too,” said Sir John.
    â€œI would not have you want, my lairds,” said the sly old Lochmaben harper. “So over the Border to England I’ll slip and steal the horse and then, when you have had a good blink at him, you may take him back again!”
    â€œYou’re daft!” cried Sir John. “You cannot do it.”
    â€œYou silly loon!” said Sir Charles. “Och, you’d be caught, and the king would hang you on the spot!”
    â€œWhat will you wager against a crown that I will not go to Carlisle and bring King Henry’s Wanton Brown here to Lochmaben town?” asked the canny old Lochmaben harper.
    â€œFive acres of good plowed land,” said Sir John. “If you come home alive to tell the tale.”
    â€œI’ll wager five thousand pounds in gold,” said Sir Charles. “And a safer bet was never made.”
    â€œThe wager is laid,” the harper said. “Five acres and five thousand pounds against my crown that I will fetch, for you to see, King Henry’s Wanton Brown.”
    The Lochmaben harper went home to his wife. “I’m off to Carlisle,” said he, “to steal King Henry’s Wanton Brown for the Lochmaben lairds to see.”
    â€œThen take along the old gray mare that yestreen had a foal,” said she. “Take the old gray mare, but leave the foal at home with me. Hide a halter under your cloak till you can steal the Wanton away, then slip the halter over the steed’s nose and tie the lead to the tail of the gray. Then let the old gray mare go free, and off she’ll speed, like a hiving bee, to her foal that’s here at home with me. She’ll never stop for food nor drink till she comes to Lochmaben town. And willy-nilly, tied to her tail, she’ll bring King Henry’s Wanton Brown!”
    â€œPraise God who gave me a wife with wits!” said the harper. “I’ll do as you say.” So with his harp, on the gray mare’s back, he merrily rode away, with his
    Dum ti tiddely,
    Um ti diddely,
    Daddely, diddely,
    Dee dum do!
    The Lochmaben harper came to Carlisle and went harping through the town. Hard by Carlisle Castle gate he met a man coming down, with jeweled coat, and feathered cap, and many a golden chain and ring. When the harper asked folk who he was, they said ’twas Henry the English king.
    â€œLight down! Light down!” King Henry said. “Old harper, your music I must hear!”
    â€œOh, by my sooth,” the harper said. “I cannot play till I find stabling for my gray mare.”
    â€œGo down below to the outer court that stands by the town. You’ll find room there to stable your mare beside my good steed Wanton Brown.”
    The harper went to the outer court and found the stable there. Beside King Henry’s Wanton Brown he tied up his old gray mare.
    With his harp on his arm to the gate he went, and into the castle hall, to harp for King Henry, his lords and his knights, his huntsmen and nobles all, with his
    Dum ti tiddely,
    Um ti diddely,
    Daddely, diddely,
    Dee dum do!
    The harper played and the harper carped and the king and his lordlings swore that never in all their lives had they heard music so sweet before. So still they stood a body’d have thought they were rooted to the floor, and even the grooms crept in to hear, and forgot to lock the stable door.
    The harper harped and the harper carped a lay so soft and slow that the king and his lords all nodded their heads and off to sleep did go. One by one they closed their eyes and lay in