_,
in the chorus,[1] seems to be corrupted from _selt_, or salt; a quantity
of which, in compliance with a popular superstition, is frequently
placed on the breast of a corpse.' It is true that a superstition to
this effect does exist: but 'fleet' is doubtless the right reading.
Aubrey glosses it as 'water'; but Murray has shown (_New English
Dictionary, s.v._), by three quotations from wills dated between 1533
and 1570, that 'fire and flet' is an expression meaning simply 'fire and
house-room.' 'Flet,' in short, is our modern 'flat' in an unspecialised
and uncorrupted form.

[Footnote 1: Scott repeats the first stanza at the end of his
version.]

THE LYKE-WAKE DIRGE

(Lansdowne MS., 231, fol. 114 _recto_.)

1.
This ean night, this ean night,
eve[r]y night and awle:
Fire and Fleet and Candle-light
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

2.
When thou from hence doest pass away
every night and awle
To Whinny-moor thou comest at last
and Christ recieve thy [thy silly poor] Sawle.

3.
If ever thou gave either hosen or shun
every night and awle
Sitt thee downe and putt them on
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

4.
But if hosen nor shoon thou never gave nean
every night &c:
The Whinnes shall prick thee to the bare beane
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

5.
From Whinny-moor that thou mayst pass
every night &c:
To Brig o' Dread thou comest at last
and Christ &c:
[fol. 114 _verso_]
no brader than a thread.

6.
From Brig of Dread that thou mayst pass
every night &c:
To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last
and Christ &c:

7.
If ever thou gave either Milke or drinke
every night &c:
The fire shall never make thee shrink
and Christ &c:

8.
But if milk nor drink thou never gave nean
every night &c:
The Fire shall burn thee to the bare bane
and Christ recive thy Sawle.

[Annotations:
1.1: 'ean,' one.
1.3: 'Fleet,' water. --_Aubrey's marginal note._ See above.
2.3: Whin is a Furze. --_Aubrey_.
2.4: This line stands in the MS. as here printed.
3.1: Job cap. xxxi. 19. If I have seen any perish for want of
cloathing, or any poor without covering: 20. If his loyns have
not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my
sheep, &c. --_Aubrey_.
3.3: There will be hosen and shoon for