Sinopsis

(Border Minstrelsy.) The king sits in Dunfermline town, Drinking the blude-red wine o: “O whare will I get a skeely skipper To sail this new ship of mine o?” O up and spake an eldern-knight, Sat at the king’s right knee: “Sir Patrick Spens is the best sailor That ever saild the sea.” Our king has written a braid letter, And seald it with his hand, And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens, Was walking on the strand. “To Noroway, to Noroway, To Noroway oer the faem; The king’s daughter of Noroway, ’Tis thou maun bring her hame.” The first word that Sir Patrick read, Sae loud, loud laughed he; The neist word that Sir Patrick read, The tear blinded his ee.