For ever now, O Yarrow stream! Behold my Love, the flower of Yarrow. He promised me a milk-white steed To squire me to his father's towers; Sweet were his words when last we met; His mother from the window look'd The green-wood path to meet her brother; No longer from thy window look Thou hast no son, thou tender mother! And search no more the forest thorough; The tear shall never leave my cheek, I'll seek thy body in the stream, J. Logan CXXVIII WILLY DROWNED IN YARROW Down in yon garden sweet and gay My wish be wi' sweet Willie ! 'Willie's rare, and Willie's fair, "O gentle wind, that bloweth south, 'O tell sweet Willie to come doun And leaves around them hinging. 'The lav'rock there, wi' her white breast 'O Leader haughs are wide and braid And Yarrow haughs are bonny; There Willie hecht to marry me 'But Willie's gone, whom I thought on, 'Yestreen I made my bed fu' braid, 'O came ye by yon water-side? Or came you by yon meadow green, She sought him up, she sought him down, Syne, in the cleaving of a craig, She found him drown'd in Yarrow ! Anon. CXXIX LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE Toll for the Brave! The brave that are no more! All sunk beneath the wave Fast by their native shore ! Eight hundred of the brave A land-breeze shook the shrouds Down went the Royal George, Toll for the brave! It was not in the battle; His sword was in its sheath, Weigh the vessel up Once dreaded by our foes! And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes. Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again Full charged with England's thunder, And plough the distant main : But Kempenfelt is gone, And he and his eight hundred Shall plough the wave no more. W. Cowper CXXX BLACK-EYED SUSAN All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd, William, who high upon the yard Rock'd with the billow to and fro, Soon as her well-known voice he heard He sigh'd, and cast his eyes below: The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands, And quick as lightning on the deck he stands. So the sweet lark, high poised in air, 'O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, My vows shall ever true remain ; Let me kiss off that falling tear; We only part to meet again. Change as ye list, ye winds; my heart shall be Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind: Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so, 'If to fair India's coast we sail, Thy eyes are seen in diamonds bright, Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin is ivory so white. Thus every beauteous object that I view 'Though battle call me from thy arms Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.' The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosom spread; No longer must she stay aboard; They kiss'd, she sigh'd, he hung his head. |