II. If thou shalt meet a lassie In grace and beauty charming, III. If thou hadst heard her talking, But her by thee is slighted, IV. If thou hast met this fair one; But her, thou hast deserted, O that's the queen o' womankind, [Of the air of Morag the Poet was passionately fond; yet it cannot be said that he was more than commonly successful in wedding it to words. The measure which the tune requires is cramp and difficult, and the sentiment is interrupted before it has well begun to flow. This song was found among the papers of Burns; the exact period of its composition is not known, nor has the heroine been named.-ED.] CALEDONIA. TUNE- Caledonian Hunt's Delight." I. There was once a day-but old Time then was young- II. A lambkin in peace, but a lion in war, The pride of her kindred the heroine grew: Her grandsire, old Odin, triumphantly swore "Whoe'er shall provoke thee, th' encounter shall rue!" With tillage or pasture at times she would sport, Her darling amusement, the hounds and the horn. III. Long quiet she reign'd; till thitherward steers They darken'd the air, and they plunder'd the land: IV. The fell harpy-raven took wing from the north, The scourge of the seas, and the dread of the shore; The wild Scandinavian boar issu'd forth To wanton in carnage, and wallow in gore: O'er countries and kingdoms their fury prevail'd, No arts could appease them, no arms could repel; But brave Caledonia in vain they assailed, As Largs well can witness, and Loncartie tell. V. The Cameleon-savage disturb'd her repose, And robb'd him at once of his hopes and his life: The Anglian lion, the terror of France, Oft prowling, ensanguin'd the Tweed's silver flood: But, taught by the bright Caledonian lance, He learned to fear in his own native wood. VI. Thus bold, independent, unconquer'd, and free, I'll prove it from Euclid as clear as the sun : The upright is Chance, and old Time is the base; But brave Caledonia's the hypothenuse; Then ergo, she'll match them, and match them always. [There is both knowledge of history and elegance of allegory in this singular song; but the most remarkable part is the conclusion, where the Poet proves, by mathematical demonstration, the immortality of Caledonia. It was one of those pieces on which he set little store; but it may be observed of this as it has been remarked of others of his productions, that it bears the stamp of national love and of a manly understanding. Indeed, in the hastiest snatch he ever penned, some happy touch will be found denoting the hand of the master-some singular thought or felicitous line-easy to him and unattainable to others.-ED.] O LAY THY LOOF IN MINE, LASS. Tune-" Cordwainer's March." I. O lay thy loof in mine, lass, In mine, lass, in mine, lass; Unless thou be my ain. II. There's monie a lass has broke my rest, But thou art queen within my breast, O lay thy loof in mine, lass, In mine, lass, in mine, lass; And swear on thy white hand, lass, [The air for which these verses were written is commonly played on King Crispin's day, when the shoemakers hold a sort of saturnalia, and with pennons displayed, and trumpet and drum, march through our northern borough towns, attired like kings, princes of the blood, senators, ambassadors, and warriors. The 1 |