Ye Fattale Cheyse

Ytte wes a mirke an dreiry cave,
Weet scroggis¹ owr ytte creepe.
Gurgles withyn yee flowan wave
Throw channel braid an deep

Never withyn that dreir recesse
Wes sene ye lyghte of daye,
Quhat bode azont² yts mirkinesse³
Nane kend annane mote saye.

Ye monarche rade owr brake an brae
An drave ye yellynge packe,
Hiz meany⁴ au' richte cadgily⁵
Are wendynge⁶ yn hiz tracke.

Wi' eager iye, wi' yalpe an crye
Ye hondes yode⁷ down ye rocks,
Ahead of au' their companye
Renneth ye panky⁸ foxe.

Ye foxe hes soughte that cave of awe
Forewearied⁹ wi' hiz rin.
Quha nou ys he sae bauld an braw¹⁰
To dare to enter yn?

Wi' eager bounde hes ilka honde
Gane till that caverne dreir,
Fou¹¹ many a yowl¹² ys¹³ hearde arounde,
Fou¹¹ many a screech of feir.

Like ane wi' thirstie appetite
Quha swalloweth orange pulp,
Wes hearde a huggle an a bite,
A swallow an a gulp.

Ye kynge hes lap grae aff hiz steid,
Outbrayde¹⁴ hiz trenchant brande;
"Quha on my packe of hondes doth feed,
Maun deye benead thilke hande."

Sae sed, sae dune: ye stonderes¹⁵ hearde
Fou many a mickle¹⁶ stroke,
Sowns¹⁷ luke ye flappynge of a birde,
A struggle an a choke.

Owte of ye cave scarce fette¹⁸ they ytte,
Wi pow¹⁹ an push an hau'²⁰--
Whereof Y've drawne a littel bytte,
Bot durst not draw ytte au.²¹

Lewis Carroll, 1850-1853

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1. bushes.
2. beyond.
3. darkness.
4. company.
5. merrily.
6. going journeying.
7. went.
8. cunning.
9. much wearied.
10. brave.
11. full.
12. howl.
13. is.
14. drawn.
15. bystanders.
16. heavy.
17. sounds.
18. fetched.
19. pull.
20. haul.
21. all.