And mouldering now in silent dust Shall live my Highland Mary. 152 AULD ROBIN GRAY R. BURNS. 30 When the sheep are in the fauld, and the kye at hame, And a' the warld to rest are gane, The waes o' my heart fa' in showers frae my e'e, While my gudeman lies sound by me. Young Jamie lo’ed me weel, and sought me for his bride; 5 But saving a croun he had naething else beside : stown awa; 10 My mother she fell sick, and my Jamie at the sea— And auld Robin Gray came a-courtin' me. My father couldna work, and my mother couldna spin; I toil'd day and night, but their bread I couldna win; Auld Rob maintain'd them baith, and wi' tears in his e'e Said, Jennie, for their sakes, O, marry me ! 15 My heart it said nay; I look'd for Jamie back; But the wind it blew high, and the ship it was a wrack His ship it was a wrack-why didna Jamie dee? Or why do I live to cry, Wae's me? 20 My father urgit sair: my mother didna speak; But she look'd in my face till my heart was like to break: They gi'ed him my hand, but my heart was at the sea; Sae auld Robin Gray he was gudeman to me. 25 I hadna been a wife a week but only four, O sair, sair did we greet, and muckle did we say; 32 I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin ; LADY A. LINDSAY. 35 153 DUNCAN GRAY Duncan Gray cam here to woo, On blythe Yule night when we were fou, Duncan fleech'd, and Duncan pray'd; Meg was deaf as Ailsa Craig ; 10 Time and chance are but a tide, She may gae to-France for me! 15 How it comes let doctors tell, And O, her een, they spak sic things! Duncan was a lad o' grace; Ha, ha, the wooing o't! Maggie's was a piteous case Duncan couldna be her death, Swelling pity smoor'd his wrath ; 20 25 30 R. BURNS. 154 THE SAILOR'S WIFE And are ye sure the news is true? 5 Reach down my cloak, I'll to the quay, For there's nae luck about the house, There 's nae luck at a' ; 10 There's little pleasure in the house And gie to me my bigonet, For I maun tell the baillie's wife 15 My Turkey slippers maun gae on, It's a' to pleasure our gudeman, 20 Rise, lass, and mak a clean fireside, Gie little Kate her button gown And Jock his Sunday coat ; And mak their shoon as black as slaes, 25 It's a' to please my ain gudeman, For he's been long awa'. There's twa fat hens upo' the coop Been fed this month and mair; 30 Mak haste and thraw their necks about, And spread the table neat and clean, For wha can tell how Colin fared When he was far awa' ? Sae true his heart, sae smooth his speech, His breath like caller air; His very foot has music in't As he comes up the stair And will I see his face again? I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought, 35 40 If Colin's weel, and weel content, 45 And gin I live to keep him sae, And will I see his face again, And will I hear him speak? 50 I'm downright dizzy wi' the thought, For there's nae luck about the house, There's little pleasure in the house 55 W. J. MICKLE. 155 JEAN Of a' the airts the wind can blaw I dearly like the West, For there the bonnie lassie lives, There's wild woods grow, and rivers row, But day and night my fancy's flight I see her in the dewy flowers, I see her sweet and fair: 4 10 I hear her in the tunefu' birds, I hear her charm the air: There's not a bonnie flower that springs By fountain, shaw, or green, There's not a bonnie bird that sings 15 O blaw ye westlin winds, blaw saft 20 What sighs and vows amang the knowes Hae pass'd atween us twa! 26 How fond to meet, how wae to part That night she gaed awa! The Powers aboon can only ken As my sweet lovely Jean! R. BURNS. 30 |