WILT THOU BE MY DEARIE ?

Air-" The Sutor's Dochter."

I.

Wilt thou be my dearie?

When sorrow wrings thy gentle heart,

Wilt thou let me cheer thee?
By the treasure of my soul,

That's the love I bear thee!

I swear and vow that only thou

Shall ever be my dearie.

Only thou, I swear and vow,

Shall ever be my dearie.

II.

Lassie, say thou lo'es me;
Or if thou wilt na be my ain,
Say na thou'lt refuse me :
If it winna, canna be,

Thou, for thine may choose me,
Let me, lassie, quickly die,
Trusting that thou lo'es me.
Lassie, let me quickly die,
Trusting that thou lo'es me.

[This song is said to have been composed in honour of the charms of Janet Miller, of Dalswinton, mother to the present Earl of Mar, and at that time one of the loveliest women in all the south of Scotland. The Poet thought so well of it, that he gave a copy to Johnson as well as to Thomson.-ED.]

BUT LATELY SEEN.

Tune-" The winter of life."

I.

But lately seen in gladsome green,
The woods rejoiced the day ;
Thro' gentle showers the laughing flowers,
In double pride were gay :
But now our joys are fled

On winter blasts awa!

Yet maiden May, in rich array,
Again shall bring them a'.

II.

But my white pow, nae kindly thowe
Shall melt the snaws of age;

My trunk of eild, but buss or beild,
Sinks in Time's wintry rage.

Oh! age has weary days,

And nights o' sleepless pain!

Thou golden time o' youthfu' prime,
Why comes thou not again?

[Though Burns gave much of his musing-time to the work of Thomson, he did not neglect his earlier friend

lisher,

Johnson, but contributed new as well as amended lyrics from time to time, and took a lively interest in the success of the work. "The Winter of Life," is one of those communications.-" Perhaps," says the Poet to the pubyou may not find your account lucratively in this business; but you are a patriot for the music of your country; and I am certain posterity will look on themselves as highly indebted to your public spirit. Have you never a fair goddess that leads you a wildgoose-chase of amorous devotion? Let me know a few of her qualities, such as whether she be rather black, or fair; plump or thin; short, or tall: and choose your air, and I shall task my muse to celebrate her." It is not known what reply Johnson made to the latter part of this epistle he was a plain, blunt man, and cared little about the graces of song, or the melody of music, save in the way of his trade.-ED.]

TO MARY.

Tune-“ Could aught of song."

I.

COULD aught of song declare my pains,
Could artful numbers move thee,
The muse should tell, in labour'd strains,
O Mary, how I love thee!

They who but feign a wounded heart
May teach the lyre to languish ;
But what avails the pride of art,
When wastes the soul with anguish ?

II.

Then let the sudden bursting sigh
The heart-felt pang discover ;
And in the keen, yet tender eye,
O read th' imploring lover.
For well I know thy gentle mind
Disdains art's gay disguising;
Beyond what fancy e'er refin'd,
The voice of nature prizing.

[These tender verses seem to have been inspired as much by Hamilton's song of "Ah! the Shepherd's mournful Fate," as by the charms of Mary. It is in one of the latter volumes of Johnson's Musical Museum.-ED.]

HERE'S TO THY HEALTH, MY BONNIE LASS.

Tune-" Laggan Burn.”

I.

HERE'S to thy health, my bonnie lass,
Gude night, and joy be wi' thee;
I'll come nae mair to thy bower-door,
To tell thee that I lo'e thee.
O dinna think, my pretty pink,
But I can live without thee:
I vow and swear I dinna care
How lang ye look about ye.

II.

Thou'rt ay sae free informing me
Thou hast nae mind to marry;

I'll be as free informing thee
Nae time hae I to tarry.

I ken thy friends try ilka means,
Frae wedlock to delay thee;
Depending on some higher chance-
But fortune may betray thee.

III.

I ken they scorn my low estate,

But that does never grieve me ;

But I'm as free as any he,

Sma' siller will relieve me.