Willie and Helen An' beauty an' love's the reward o' the brave, 941 Then glory, my Jeanie, maun plead my excuse; WILLIE AND HELEN "WHAREFORE sou'd ye talk o' love, Whan ye say the sea maun twain us?" "It's no because my love is light, '/ "O Willy, I can caird an' spin, "Will it be time to praise this cheek · Will it be time to talk o' love Whan cauld an' care hae quenched it?" He's laid ae han' about her waist The ither's held to heaven; An' his luik was like the luik o' man Wha's heart in twa is riven. Hew Ainslie [1792-1878] ABSENCE WITH leaden foot Time creeps along While Delia is away: With her, nor plaintive was the song, Ah, envious Power! reverse my doom; Strain every nerve, stretch every plume, And rest them when she's here! Richard Jago [1715-1781] "MY MOTHER BIDS ME BIND MY HAIR" My mother bids me bind my hair With bands of rosy hue; Tie up my sleeves with ribbons rare, And lace my bodice blue! "For why," she cries, "sit still and weep, While others dance and play?" Alas! I scarce can go, or creep, 'Tis sad to think the days are gone When those we love were near! I sit upon this mossy stone, And sigh when none can hear: And while I spin my flaxen thread, The village seems asleep, or dead, Now Lubin is away! Anne Hunter [1742-1821] "BLOW HIGH! BLOW LOW!" BLOW high, blow low! let tempest tear The mainmast by the board! My heart (with thoughts of thee, my dear! The Siller Croun Shall brave all danger, scorn all fear, To be once more Safe moored with thee. Aloft, while mountain-high we go, To think on thee. And this shall be my Song, Blow high, blow low! let tempest tear. And on that night (when all the crew And drink their sweethearts and their wives), And think of thee. And, as the ship toils through the sea, The burden of my Song shall be, Blow high, blow low! let tempest tear. 943 Charles Dibdin [1745-1814] THE SILLER CROUN "AND ye sall walk in silk attire, Oh, wha wad buy a silken goun The mind wha's every wish is pure Far dearer is to me; And ere I'm forced to break my faith,' For I ha'e pledged my virgin troth His gentle manners wan my heart, For langest life can ne'er repay And ere I'm forced to break my troth I'll lay me doun and dee. Susanna Blamire [1747-1794] "MY NANNIE'S AWA'" Now in her green mantle blithe Nature arrays, The snaw-drap an' primrose our woodlands adorn, Thou laverock that springs frae the dews of the lawn, Come, autumn, sae pensive, in yellow an' gray, Robert Burns [1759-1796] "The Day Returns" 945 "AE FOND KISS" AE fond kiss, and then we sever; Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Who shall say that Fortune grieves him I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy; Had we never loved sae kindly, We had ne'er been broken-hearted. Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest! Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! Ae fareweel, alas, for ever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee! Robert Burns [1759-1796] "THE DAY RETURNS" THE day returns, my bosom burns, Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet. |