Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ALLANSFORD PURSUIT, by ISOBEL GOWDIE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ALLANSFORD PURSUIT, by                    
First Line: Cunning and art he did not lack
Last Line: But aye her whistle would fetch him back.
Subject(s): Witchcraft & Witches


Cunning and art he did not lack
But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

O, I shall go into a hare
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care,
And I shall go in the Devil's name
Aye, till I be fetched hame.
-- Hare, take heed of a bitch greyhound
Will harry thee all these feels around.
For here come I in Our Lady's name
All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack
But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet, I shall go into a trout
With sorrow and sighing and mickle doubt,
And show thee many a crooked game
Ere that I be fetched hame,
-- Trout, take heed of an otter lank
Will harry thee close from bank to bank,
For here come I in Our Lady's name
All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack
But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet I shall go into a bee
With mickle horror and dread of thee
And flit to hive in the Devil's name
Ere that I be fetched hame.
-- Bee, take heed of a swallow hen
Will harry thee close, both butt and ben,
For here come I in Our Lady's name
All but for to fetch thee hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack
But aye her whistle would fetch him back.

Yet I shall go into a mouse
And haste me unto the miller's house,
There in his corn to have good game
Ere that I be fetched hame.
-- Mouse, take heed of a white tib-cat
That never was baulked of mouse or rat,
For I'll crack thy bones in Our Lady's name:
Thus shalt thou be fetched hame.

Cunning and art he did not lack
But aye her whistle would fetch him back.





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