1792.

Of a' the Airts

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,

Peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!

20

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee. 24

Robert Burns.

1790.

OF A' THE AIRTS

OF a' the airts the wind can blaw,
I dearly like the west,

For there the bonnie lassie lives,

The lassie I lo'e best:

There wild woods grow, and rivers row,

And monie a hill between;

But day and night my fancy's flight

Is ever wi' my Jean.

I see her in the dewy flowers,
I see her sweet and fair:

I hear her in the tunefu' birds,

I hear her charm the air:

There's not a bonnie flower that springs
By fountain, shaw, or green;

There's not a bonnie bird that sings,

But minds me o' my Jean.

8

16

Robert Burns.

HIGHLAND MARY

YE banks and braes and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery,

Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie!
There simmer first unfauld her robes,

And there the langest tarry;
For there I took the last fareweel
O' my sweet Highland Mary.

How sweetly bloom'd the gay green birk,
How rich the hawthorn's blossom,
As underneath their fragrant shade
I clasp'd her to my bosom!
The golden hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my dearie;
For dear to me as light and life

Was my sweet Highland Mary.

16

Wi' monie a vow and lock'd embrace
Our parting was fu' tender;

And, pledging aft to meet again,

We tore oursels asunder;

But oh! fell Death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early!

Now green 's the sod, and cauld 's the clay,
That wraps my Highland Mary!

24

If Doughty Deeds

O pale, pale now, those rosy lips
I aft hae kiss'd sae fondly!
And closed for aye the sparkling glance
That dwelt on me sae kindly;
And mouldering now in silent dust
That heart that lo'ed me dearly!
But still within my bosom's core
Shall live my Highland Mary.

1792. 1799.

32

Robert Burns.

IF DOUGHTY DEEDS

IF doughty deeds my lady please,
Right soon I'll mount my steed;
And strong his arm and fast his seat,
That bears frae me the meed.
I'll wear thy colours in my cap,
Thy picture in my heart;

And he that bends not to thine eye

Shall rue it to his smart!

Then tell me how to woo thee, Love;

O tell me how to woo thee!

For thy dear sake nae care I'll take,
Tho' ne'er another trow me.

If gay attire delight thine eye,
I'll dight me in array;

I'll tend thy chamber door all night,
And squire thee all the day.

12

If sweetest sounds can win thine ear,
These sounds I'll strive to catch;
Thy voice I'll steal to woo thysel',

That voice that nane can match.

But if fond love thy heart can gain,
I never broke a vow;

Nae maiden lays her skaith to me,

I never loved but you.

For you alone I ride the ring,

For you I wear the blue;
For you alone I strive to sing,

1801-2.

O tell me how to woo!

Then tell me how to woo thee, Love;
O tell me how to woo thee!

For thy dear sake nae care I 'll take
Tho' ne'er another trow me.

Robert Cunninghame-Graham.

20

32

COUNTY GUY

АH! County Guy, the hour is nigh,
The sun has left the lea,

The orange-flower perfumes the bower,
The breeze is on the sea.

The lark, his lay who trill'd all day,
Sits hush'd his partner nigh;

Breeze, bird, and flower confess the hour,
But where is County Guy?

"Fly to the Desert, Fly with Me'

The village maid steals through the shade
Her shepherd's suit to hear;

To Beauty shy, by lattice high,
Sings high-born Cavalier.

The star of Love, all stars above,

Now reigns o'er earth and sky;
And high and low the influence know-
But where is County Guy?

1823.

16

Sir Walter Scott.

"FLY TO THE DESERT, FLY

WITH ME"

From Lalla Rookh

"FLY to the desert, fly with me,

Our Arab tents are rude for thee;

But oh! the choice what heart can doubt

Of tents with love or thrones without?

4

"Our rocks are rough, but smiling there
The acacia waves her yellow hair,
Lonely and sweet, nor loved the less
For flowering in a wilderness.

"Our sands are bare, but down their slope The silvery-footed antelope

As gracefully and gayly springs

As o'er the marble courts of kings.

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12