But now the cot is bare and cauld, "Alas!" quoth I, "what ruefu' chance Has stripped the cleeding o' your braes? Was it the bitter eastern blast, That scatters blight in early spring? Or was 't the wil'fire scorch'd their boughs, Or canker-worm wi' secret sting?" "Nae eastlin blast," the sprite replied; "It blaws na here sae fierce and fell, And on my dry and halesome banks Nae canker-worms get leave to dwell: Man! cruel man!" the genius sighed— As through the cliffs he sank him down"The worm that gnaw'd my bonie trees, That reptile wears a ducal crown." 1 THE GALLANT WEAVER WHERE Cart rins rowin' to the sea, He is a gallant Weaver. My daddie sign'd my tocher-band, And give it to the Weaver. While birds rejoice in leafy bowers, While bees delight in opening flowers, While corn grows green in summer showers, I love my gallant Weaver. 1 The Duke of Queensberry. EPIGRAM AT BROWNHILL INN1 Ar Brownhill we always get dainty good cheer, YOU'RE WELCOME, WILLIE STEWART You're welcome, Willie Stewart, There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May, COME, bumpers high, express your joy, You're welcome, Willie Stewart, &c. May foes be strang, and friends be slack May woman on him turn her back LOVELY POLLY STEWART Chorus. O lovely Polly Stewart, O charming Polly Stewart, There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May, THE flower it blaws, it fades, it fa's, O lovely Polly Stewart, &c. 1 Bacon was the name of a presumably intrusive host. The lines are said to have "afforded much amusement."-Lang. May he whase arms shall fauld thy charms To him be given to ken the heaven O lovely Polly Stewart, &c. FRAGMENT,-DAMON AND SYLVIA Tune "The Tither Morn." YON wandering rill that marks the hill, JOHNIE LAD, COCK UP YOUR BEAVER WHEN first my brave Johnie lad came to this town, Cock up your beaver, and cock it fu' sprush, MY EPPIE MACNAB O SAW ye my dearie, my Eppie Macnab? She's down in the yard, she's kissin the laird, O come thy ways to me, my Eppie Macnab; Thou's welcome again to thy ain Jock Rab. What says she, my dearie, my Eppie Macnab? What says she, my dearie, my Eppie Macnab? She let's thee to wit that she has thee forgot, And for ever disowns thee, her ain Jock Rab. O had I ne'er seen thee, my Eppie Macnab! As light as the air, and as fause as thou's fair, ALTHO' HE HAS LEFT ME ALTHO' he has left me for greed o' the siller, I dinna envy him the gains he can win; I rather wad bear a' the lade o' my sorrow, Than ever hae acted sae faithless to him. MY TOCHER'S THE JEWEL My tocher's the jewel has charms for him. It's a' for the hinny he'll cherish the bee, Your proffer o' luve's an airle-penny, Sae ye wi anither your fortune may try. Ye're like to the timmer o' yon rotten wood, Ye're like to the bark o' yon rotten tree, Ye'll slip frae me like a knotless thread, And ye'll crack your credit wi' mae nor me. O FOR ANE AN' TWENTY, TAM And hey, sweet ane an' twenty, Tam! THEY Snool me sair, and haud me down, But three short years will soon wheel roun', A glieb o' lan', a claut o' gear, Was left me by my auntie, Tam; An I saw ane an' twenty, Tam. They'll hae me wed a wealthy coof, THOU FAIR ELIZA TURN again, thou fair Eliza! Rue on thy despairing lover, Can'st thou break his faithfu' heart? Turn again, thou fair Eliza! If to love thy heart denies, Oh, in pity hide the sentence Under friendship's kind disguise! Thee, sweet maid, hae I offended? ever, Wha for thine would gladly die? While the life beats in my bosom, Thou shalt mix in ilka throe: Turn again, thou lovely maiden, Ae sweet smile on me bestow. Not the bee upon the blossom, In the pride o' sinny noon; |