O MAY, THY MORN.
The lady here celebrated is said to be the fair Clarinda.
O MAY, thy morn was ne'er sae sweet
As the mirk night o' December;
For sparkling was the rosy wine,
And private was the chamber:
And dear was she I dare na name,
But I will ay remember.
But dear was she I dare na name,
But I will ay remember.
And here's to them, that, like oursel,
Can push about the jorum;
And here's to them that wish us weel,
May a' that's guid watch o'er them!
And here's to them, we dare na tell,
The dearest o' the quorum.
And here's to them we dare na tell,
The dearest o' the quorum!
THE HIGHLAND LADDIE.1
TUNE-If thou 'lt play me fair play.
THE bonniest lad that e'er I saw,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Wore a plaid, and was fu' braw,
Bonnie Highland laddie.
On his head a bonnet blue,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie;
His royal heart was firm and true,
Bonnie Highland laddie.
Trumpets sound, and cannons roar,
Bonnie lassie, Lowland lassie;
And a' the hills wi' echoes roar,
Bonnie Lowland lassie.
1 Burns compressed "The Highland lad and Lowland lassie" into these three stanzas. It has allusion to Prince Charles, and is expressive of the affec tion and constancy of the people to him and his family.
Glory, honor, now invite,
Bonnie lassie, Lowland lassie,
For freedom and my king to fight,
Bonnie Lowland lassie.
The sun a backward course shall take,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie,
Ere aught thy manly courage shake,
Bonnie Highland laddie.
Go, for yourself procure renown,
Bonnie laddie, Highland laddie;
And for your lawful king his crown,
Bonnie Highland laddie.
The stream of Girvan and the banks of Cassillis were ever present to the feeling and fancy of Burns; he loved to return to the scenes of his youth.
Now bank an' brae are claith'd' in green,
An' scatter'd cowslips sweetly spring;
By Girvan's fairy-haunted stream
The birdies flit on wanton wing.
To Cassillis' banks when e'ening fa's,
There wi' my Mary let me flee,
There catch her ilka glance of love,
The bonnie blink o' Mary's e'e!
The child wha boasts o' warld's walth'
Is aften laird o' meikle care;
But Mary she is a' my ain
Ah! fortune canna gie me mair.
Then let me range by Cassillis' banks,
Wi' her, the lassie dear to me,
And catch her ilka glance o' love,
The bonnie blink o' Mary's e'e!
1 Clothed.-2 World's wealth.
To thee, loved Nith, thy gladsome plains,
Where late wi' careless thought I ranged,
Though prest wi' care and sunk in woe,
To thee I bring a heart unchanged.
I love thee, Nith, thy banks and braes,
Tho' memory there my bosom tear;
For there he roved that brake my heart,
Yet to that heart, ah! still how dear!
The air to which these words were written gave the name to an old song.
BANNOCKS O' bear meal,
Bannocks o' barley;
Here's to the Highlandman's
Bannocks o' barley.
Wha in a brulzie
Will first cry a parley?
Never the lads wi'
The bannocks o' barley.
Bannocks o' bear meal,
Bannocks o' barley;
Here's to the lads wi'
The bannocks o' barley.
Wha in his wae-days
Were loyal to Charlie?
Wha but the lads wi'
The bannocks o' barley.
TUNE-The Highland Balou.
HEE balou! my sweet wee Donald,
Picture o' the great Clanronald;
Brawlie kens our wanton chief
Wha got my young Highland thief.
Leeze me on thy bonnie craigie,
An' thou live, thou 'll steal a naigie:
Travel the country thro' and thro',
And bring hame a Carlisle cow.
Thro' the Lawlands, o'er the border,
Weel, my babie, may thou furder:
Herry the louns o' the laigh countree,
Syne to the Highlands hame to me.
HERE'S HIS HEALTH IN WATER!
TUNE-The Job of Journey-work.
ALTHO' my back be at the wa',
And tho' he be the fautor;
Altho' my back be at the wa',
Yet, here's his health in water!
Oh! wae gae by his wanton sides,
Sae brawlie he could flatter;
Till for his sake I'm slighted sair,
And dree the kintra clatter.
But tho' my back be at the wa',
And though he be the fautor;
But tho' my back be at the wa',
Yet, here's his health in water!
1 The sentiment is that of an old Highland nursery song: the Highland chief and his clan were formerly little better than robbers; they taught it to their children from their cradle, that might was right, especially so far as the Lowland cattle were concerned. The origin of this song is said to be, that a Highland lady sung a song in Gaelic, and explained it in English to the poet, when he quickly rendered it as it now appears.
HERE'S TO THY HEALTH, MY BONNIE LASS.
This was a song of the Poet's youthful days.
HERE's to thy health, my bonnie lass,
Gude night, and joy be wi' thee;
I'll come nae mair to thy bower door,
To tell thee that I lo'e thee.
Oh dinna think, my pretty pink,
But I can live without thee;
I vow and swear I dinna care
How lang ye look about ye.
Thou 'rt ay sae free informing me
Thou hast nae mind to marry;
I'll be as free informing thee
Nae time hae I to tarry.
I ken thy friends try ilka means,
Frae wedlock to delay thee;
Depending on some higher chance-
But fortune may betray thee.
I ken they scorn my low estate,
But that does never grieve me;
But I'm as free as any he,
Sma' siller will relieve me.
I count my health my greatest wealth,
Sae long as I'll enjoy it:
I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want,
As lang's I get employment.
But far off fowls hae feathers fair,
And ay until ye try them:
Tho' they seem fair, still have a care,
They may prove waur than I am.
But at twal at night, when the moon shines bright,
My dear, I'll come and see thee;
For the man that lo'es his mistress weel
Nae travel makes him weary.
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