LL-L "Help needed" 2002.08.20 (04) [E/S]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 20.AUG.2002 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.lowlands-l.net> Email: admin at lowlands-l.net
 Rules & Guidelines: <http://www.lowlands-l.net/rules.htm>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

From: "Ahlfeld, Ross" <ross.ahlfeld at invitrogen.com>
Subject: Help Required 20/08

Hello Lowlanders,
The poem below may be of some interest to those of you interested in
rural
European pre-industrial folk beliefs. This poem is based on a 17th Cent.
historical figure called Lindsay Dunrod. The Dunrods were a noble family
from the Inverkip area of Flemish origin who came to Scotland with the
Bruces and Comyns.
It was a commonly held belief that if your cow was not producing milk
for
some reason then this was because a neighbour was extracting the milk
from
your cow by supernatural methods. The only thing I am unsure about is
who
actually wrote it and  when this was written ? I think it pre-dates both
Alan Ramsay and Robert Burns, perhaps someone can make a guess based on
the
language used.
Regards
Ross

   The Ballad Of Auld Dunrod

   Auld Dunrod was a gowstie carl,
   As ever ye micht see;
   And gin he wisna' a warlock wicht,
   There was nane in the haill countrie.
   Auld Dunrod he stack a pin -
   A boutrie pin - in the wa',
   And when he wanted his neighbour's milk
   He just gaed the pin a thraw.
   He milkit the Laird o' Kellies kye,
   And a' the kye o' Dunoon;
   And auld Dunrod gat far mair milk
   Than wad mak' a gabbert swim.
   The cheese he made were numerous,
   And wonerous to descry
   For the kyth't as gin they had been grule
   Or peats set up to dry.
   And there was nae cumerauld man about
   Wha cam' to him for skill,
   That gif he dadna dae him guid,
   He didna dae him ill.
   But the kirk got word o' Dunrod's tricks,
   And the Session they took him hand;
   And naething was left but auld Dunrod
   Forsooth maun leave the land.
   Sae auld Dunrod he muntit his stick -
   His broomstick muntit he -
   And he flychter't twa'r three times aboot,
   And syne through the air did flee.
   And he flew awa' by auld Greenock tower,
   And by the Newark ha'.
   Ye wadna kent him in his flicht
   Be a buddock or a craw.
   And he flew to the Rest and be Thankfu' Stane -
   A merry auld carle was he;
   He stottit and fluffer't as he had been wud.
   Or drucken wi' the barley bree.
   But a rountree grew at the stane -
   It is there unto this day,
   And gin ye dinna find it still,
   Set doun that it's away.
   And he ne'er wist o' the rountree
   Till he cam dunt thereon;
   His magic broomstick tint its spell,
   And he daudit on the stone.
   His heid was hard, and the Stane was sae,
   And whan they met ane anither,
   It was hard to say what wad be the weird
   Of either the tane or the tither.
   But the Stane was muilt like a lampet shell,
   And sae was Auld Dunrod;
   When ye munt a broomstick to tak a flicht,
   Ye had best tak anither road.
   The neighbours gathert to see the sicht,
   The Stane's remains they saw;
   But as for Auld Dunrod himsel',
   He was carriet clean awa'.
   And monie noy't, as weill they micht,
   The Rest and be Thankfu' Stane;
   And ilk ane said it had been better far,
   Gin Dunrod had staid at hame.
   And what becam o' Auld Dunrod
   Was doubtfu' for to say,
   Some said he wasna there ava,
   But flew anither way.

==================================END===================================
 You have received this because your account has been subscribed upon
 request. To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l"
 as message text from the same account to
 <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or sign off at
 <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 * Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
=======================================================================