O for him back again! O for him back again! I wad gi'e' a' Knockhaspie's land, BLOOMING NELLY. TUNE-"The lady of the flowery field." ON a bank of flowers, in a summer day, When Willie, wand'ring through the wood, Her closed eyes, like weapons sheathed, Her lips, still as she fragrant breathed, The springing lillies sweetly prest, Wild, wanton kiss'd her rival breast; He gazed, he wish'd, he fear'd, he blush'd, His bosom ill at rest. Her robes, light waving in the breeze, Her lovely form, her native ease, Tumultuous tides his pulses roll, A faltering, ardent kiss he stole ; He gazed, he wish'd, he fear'd, he blush'd, And sigh'd his very soul! As flies the partridge from the brake, On fear-inspired wings; So Nelly, starting, half awake, Away affrighted springs; But Willie followed-as he should, He overtook her in the wood; He vow'd, he pray'd, he found the maid OF A' THE AIRTS THE WIND CAN BLAW. TUNE-"Miss Admiral Gordon's Strathspey." Or a' the airts the wind can blaw, I dearly like the west, For there the bonnie lassie lives, The lassie I lo'e best: Where wild woods grow, and rivers row, But day and night my fancy's flight I see her in the dewy flowers, I hear her in the tuneful birds, There's not a bonnie flower that springs THE DAY RETURNS, MY BOSOM BURNS. The day returns, my bosom burns, While day and night can bring delight, When that grim foe of life below Comes in between to make us part; It breaks my bliss-it breaks my heart. THE LAZY MIST. IRISH AIR-"Coolun." The lazy mist hangs from the brow of the hill, How quick time is flying, how keen fate pursues ! How long I have lived, but how much lived in vain ; What ties, cruel fate in my bosom has torn. How foolish, or worse, till our summit is gained, And downward, how weaken'd, how darkened, how pain'd! This life's not worth having with all it can give, For something beyond it poor man sure must live. MY HEART'S IN THE HIGHLANDS. TUNE "Failse na Miosg." [The first half-stanza of this song is old,] My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow, Farewell to the forests and wild hanging-woods BEWARE OF BONNIE ANN.* Ye gallants bright, I rede you right, Her comely face, sae fu' o' grace, Her een sae bright, like stars by night, Sae jimpy laced her genty waist, Youth, grace, and love, attendant move, In a' their charms and conquering arms, The captive bands may chain the hands, Ye gallants braw I rede you a', FIRST WHEN MAGGIE WAS MY CARE. FIRST when Maggie was my care, Meg was meek, and Meg was mild, *"I conposed this song out of compliment to Miss Ann Masterton, the daughter of my friend Allan Masterton, author of the air of Strathallan's Lament, and two or three others in this work. BURNS' RELEI How we live, my Meg and me, CA' THE EWES.* TUNE-" Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes." Ca' the ewes to the knowes, Ca' them whare the heather grows, As I gaed down the water side, Will ye gang down the water-side, I was bred up at nae sic school, Ca' the, &c. Ye sall get gowns and ribbons meet, Cauf-leather shoon upon your feet, And in my arms ye'se lie and sleep, And ye sall be my dearie. Ca' the, &c. * Part of this song is old. |