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I gaz'd on her charms a' sae sweet an' invitin',
An' cried, O! ye powers wha govern above!
Sure woman was made for man to delight in;

An' cauld is that breast ne'er enliven'd by love! For what can compare wi' the thrillin' emotion, The saft perturbation that swells i' the breast, The sigh that is breath'd wi' the utmost devotion, And the soul wi' delight an' wi' rapture opprest!

Whan Nature's asleep, an' the loud winds are roarin'
Owre mountain an' dale, thro' valley an' tree,
The charms o' my Nancy I still am adorin',

For they are as spring or as summer to me!
O fresh on her cheek are the new blawin' roses;
Love flings his fond blinks frae the tail o' her ee;
And deep in her bosom, there peace ay reposes,
Wha'd banish it thence? O! it ne'er shall be me!

THE HIGHLAND LASSIE, O.
TUNE" Green grow the rashes."
NAE gentle dames, tho' e'er sae fair,
Shall ever be my muse's care;
Their titles a' are empty show;
Gie me my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen sae bushy, O,
Aboon the plain sae rushy, O,
I sét me down wi' right good will,
To sing my Highland lassie, O.

Oh! were yon hills and valleys mine!
Yon palace and yon gardens fine!
The world then the love should know
I bear my Highland lassie, O.

Within the glen, &c.

But fickle fortune frowns on me,
And I maun cross the raging sea:
But, while my crimson currents flow,
I'll love my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.

Altho' thro' foreign climes I range,
I know her heart will never change,
For her bosom burns with honour's glow,
My faithful Highland lassie, O.

Within the glen, &c.

For her I'll dare the billow's roar,
For her I'll trace a distant shore,
That Indian wealth may lustre throw,
Around my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.

She has my heart, she has my hand,
By sacred truth and honour's band!
Till the mortal stroke shall lay me low,
I'm thine my Highland lassie, O.
`Farewell the glen sae bushy, O!
Farewell the plain sae rushy, O!
To other lands I now must go
To sing my Highland lassie, O

*

"This," says BURNS, "was a composition of mine in very early life, before 1 was known at all in the world. My Highland Lassie was a warm-hearted, charming young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a pretty long tract of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met, by appointment, on the second Sunday of May, in a sequestered spot by the banks of Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell, before she should embark for the West Highlands, to arrange matters among her friends for our projected change of life. At the close of autumn following she crossed the sea to meet me at Greenock, where she had scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever, which burried my dear girl to the grave in a few days, before I could even hear of her illness."

JOCKIE TO THE FAIR.

'Twas on the morn of sweet May-day,
When nature painted all things gay,
Taught birds to sing, and lambs to play,
And gild the meadows fair;
Young Jockie, with the early dawn,
Arose, and tript it o'er the lawn;
His Sunday's coat the youth put on,
For Jenny vow'd away to run
With Jockie to the fair;
For Jenny vow'd, &c.

The cheerful parish-bells had rung;
With eager steps he trudg'd along;
While flow'ry garlands round him hung,
Which shepherds us'd to wear:
He tap't the window, Haste my dear:
Jenny, impatient, cried, Who's there?
'Tis I, my love, and no one near,
Step gently down, you've nought to fear,
With Jockie to the fair;

Step gently down, &c.

My dad and mam are fast asleep,
My brother's up, and with the sheep,
And will you still your promise keep,
Which I have heard you swear?
And will you ever constant prove?
I will, by all the powers above!
And ne'er deceive my charming dove:
Dispel those doubts, and haste, my love,
With Jockie to the fair;

Dispel those doubts, &c.

Behold the ring, the shepherd cried,
Will Jenny be my charming bride,
Let Cupid be our happy guide,

And Hymen meet us there.

Then Jockie did his vows renew,

He would be constant, would be true;
His word was pledg'd, away she flew,
O'er cowslips tipt with balmy dew,
With Jockie to the fair;

O'er cowslips tipt, &c.

In raptures meet the joyful throng
Their gay companions blythe and young,
Each joins the dance, each joins the song,
To hail the happy pair;

In turns there's none so fond as they,
They bless the kind propitious day,
The smiling morn of blooming May,
When lovely Jenny ran away
With Jockie to the fair;
When lovely Jenny, &c.

MATRIMONIAL HAPPINESS.

TUNE-" Johnnie's Grey Breeks."

WHEN I upon thy bosom lean,
And fondly clasp thee a' my ain,
I glory in the sacred ties

That made us ane, wha ance were twain:

A mutual flame inspires us baith,

The tender look, the melting kiss:

Ev'n years shall ne'er destroy our love,
But only gie us change o' bliss.

Hae I a wish? it's a' for thee;

I ken thy wish is me to please;
Our moments pass sae smooth away,
That numbers on us look and gaze:
Weel pleas'd they see our happy days,
Nor envy's sel' finds aught to blame;

And ay when weary cares arise,
Thy bosom still shall be my hame.

I'll lay me there, and take my rest,
And if that aught disturb my dear,
I'll bid her laugh her cares away,
And beg her not to drap a tear:
Hae I a joy? it's a' her ain;

United still her heart and mine;
They're like the woodbine round the tree,
That's twin'd till death shall them disjoin. *

BONNIE JEAN.

TUNE " Ettrick Banks."

SEE spring her graces wild disclose,
Birds sweetly chant on ilka spray;

* We are informed by BURNS that "this song was the work of a very worthy, facetious old fellow, JOHN LAPRAIK, late of Dalfram, near Muirkirk, which little property he was obliged to sell, in consequence of some connexion as security for some persons concerned in that villanous bubble, THE AYR BANK. He has often told me that he composed this song one day when his wife had been fretting o'er their misfortunes." From this, it may be inferred, that this is the identical song alluded to in the following stanzas of BURNS's Epistle to J. LAPRAIK.

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