"The Great Sealchie of Sule Skerrie"

Vernon Hill

Ballads Weird and Wonderful (1912)

 

 

 

Full Image

Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope)

Code: VH BWW M4 SGC
Price: US$5.00

Detail (for reference)

Reproduction on 8x12'' sheet

Code: VH BWW M4 8x12
Price: US$30.00

Reproduction on 12x18'' sheet

Code: VH BWW M4 12x18
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The Great Sealchie of Sule Skerrie

 

   

An earthly nourice sits and sings,

And aye she sings, "Ba, lily wean!

Little ken I my bairn's father,

Far less the land that he staps in."

 

Then ane arose at her bed-foot,

And a grumly guest I'm sure was he:

"Here am I, they bairn's father,

Although I be not comèlie.

 

"I am a man upon the lan',

And I am a sealchie in the sea;

And when I'm far and far frae lan',

My dwelling is in Sule Skerrie." –

 

"It was na weel," quo' the maiden fair,

"It was na weel, indeed," quoth she,

"That the Great Sealchie of Sule Skerrie

Should hae come and aught a bairn to me."

Now he has te'en a purse of gowd,

And he has put it upon her knee,

Saying, "Gie to me my little young son,

And tak' thee up they nourice-fee.

 

"And it shall pass on a summer'd day,

When the sun shines hot on every stane,

That I will take my little young son,

And teach him for to swim the faem.

 

"And thou shalt marry a proud gunner,

And a proud gunner I'm sure he'll be,

And the very first shot that e'er he shoots,

He'll shoot baith my young son and me."