Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

There's nane sall ken, there's nane sall guess,
What brings me back the gate again,
But she, my fairest faithfu' lass,

And stownlins we sall meet again.

She'll wander by the aiken tree,
When trystin-time draws near again;
And when her lovely form I see,
O haith, she's doubly dear again!

A BOTTLE AND FRIEND.‡

There's nane that's blest of human kind,
But the cheerful and the gay, man.
Fal lal, &c.

HERE'S a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man :—
Believe me, happiness is shy,

And comes not ay when sought, man.

These verses, which occur in Cromek's Reliques, are printed as they stand in a copy in the Poet's own autograph. Gilbert Burns, however, in a letter to Mr. Cromek, in February, 1809, expressed a doubt as to their having been written by his brother.

I'LL KISS THEE YET.||

TUNE THE BRAES O' BALQUHIDDER.'

CHORUS.

I'll kiss thee yet, yet,

An' I'll kiss thee o'er again,
An' I'll kiss thee yet, yet,

My bonnie Peggy Alison !

ILK care and fear, when thou art near,
I ever mair defy them, O;
Young Kings upon their hansel throne
Are no sae blest as I am, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

When in my arms, wi' a' thy charms,
I clasp my countless treasure, O;
I seek nae mair o' Heaven to share,
Than sic a moment's pleasure, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

And by thy een sae bonnie blue,
I swear I'm thine for ever, 0;—
And on thy lips I seal my vow,
And break it shall I never, O!
I'll kiss thee, &c.

This song was inserted in the "Musical Museum," p. 201, but without Burns' name, and it was first attributed to him by Cromek, in consequence of finding a copy in the Poet's hand among his papers. Peggy Alison, Mr. Allan Cunningham was informed, was who will be again mentioned.

་་

Montgomery's Peggy,"

[ocr errors]

ON CESSNOCK BANKS.*

TUNE IF HE BE A BUTCHER NEAT AND TRIM.'

ON Cessnock banks a lassie dwells;'
Could I describe her shape and mien;
Our lasses a' she far excels,2

An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een."

She's sweeter than the morning dawn
When rising Phoebus first is seen,
And dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn;
An' she has twa sparkling, rogueish een."

She's stately like yon youthful ash

That grows the cowslip braes between, And drinks the stream with vigour fresh ;7 An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een."

VAR. there lives a lass.

2 The graces of her weel-far'd face,
3 And the glancin' of her sparklin' een.
+ fresher.
5 When.
6 An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een.
7 And shoots its head above each bush.

This song was printed by Cromek" from the oral communication of a lady residing at Glasgow, whom the bard in early life affectionately admired," and he adds, "it was an

early production." The following copy has been taken from the Poet's own manuscript, and the verses are presumed to be now for the first time correctly printed.

She's spotless like' the flow'ring thorn
With flow'rs so white and leaves so green,
When purest in the dewy morn;

An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.
Her looks are like the vernal May,9
When ev'ning Phebus shines serene,'
While birds rejoice on every spray;"

10

An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een." Her hair is like the curling mist

8

That climbs12 the mountain-sides at e'en, When flow'r-reviving rains are past; An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een." Her forehead's like the show'ry bow, When gleaming13 sunbeams intervene And gild the distant mountain's brow; An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een. Her cheeks are like yon crimson gem, The pride of all the flowery scene, Just opening on its thorny stem;

An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.

Her teeth are like the nightly snow
When pale the morning rises keen,
While hid the murmuring streamlets flow;
An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.

[blocks in formation]

8 An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een.

9 sportive lamb.

10 When flow'ry May adorns the scene,
11 That wantons round its bleating dam.
12 shades.

13 shining.

Her lips are like yon" cherries ripe,

That sunny walls from Boreas screen, They tempt the taste and charm the sight; An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.15

Her teeth are like a flock of sheep,

With fleeces newly washen clean, That slowly mount the rising steep;

An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een.

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze
That gently stirs the blossom'd bean,
When Phoebus sinks behind the seas;
An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.15

Her voice is like the ev'ning thrush

That sings on Cessnock banks unseen, While his mate sits nestling in the bush; An' she has twa sparkling rogueish een.15

But it's not her air, her form, her face,

Tho' matching beauty's fabled queen, "Tis1 the mind that shines in ev'ry grace, An' chiefly in her rogueish" een.

VAR. 14 the.

15 An' she's twa glancin' sparklin' een.
17 sparklin'.

16 But.

« PředchozíPokračovat »