V. Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears Her prentice han' she try'd on man, Green grow, &c. SONG. SONG. Tune-JOCKEY'S GREY BREEKS.' I. AGAIN rejoicing nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues, CHORUS. CHORUS.* And maun I still on Menie doat,+ And bear the scorn that's in her e'e? For it's jet, jet black, an' it's like a hawk, An' it winna let a body be! II. In vain to me the cowslips blaw, And maun I still, &c. III. The merry ploughboy cheers his team, But life to me's a weary dream, And maun I still, &c. IV. * This chorus is part of a song composed by a gentleman in Edinburgh, a particular friend of the author's. + Menie is the common abbreviation of Mariamne. 3 IV. The wanton coot the water skims, And maun I still, &c. V. The sheep-herd steeks his faulding slap, I meet him on the dewy hill. And maun I still, &c. VI. And when the lark, 'tween light and dark, And maun I still, &c. VII. Come Winter, with thine angry howl, CHORUS. CHORUS. And maun I still on Menie doat, And bear the scorn that's in her e'e? For it's jet, jet black, an' its like a hawk, An' it winna let a body be.* We cannot presume to alter any of the poems of our bard, and more especially those printed under his own direction; yet it is to be regretted that this chorus, which is not of his own composition, should be attached to these fine stanzas, as it perpetually interrupts the train of sentiment which they excite. E. SONG. |