and fair are the maids on the banks of the ayr;
but by the sweet side o' the nith's winding river,
are lovers as faithful, and maidens as fair:
to equal young jessie seek scotland all over;
to equal young jessie you seek it in vain,
grace, beauty, and elegance, fetter her lover,
and maidenly modesty fixes the chain.
o, fresh is the rose in the gay, dewy morning,
and sweet is the lily, at evening close;
but in the fair presence o' lovely young jessie,
unseen is the lily, unheeded the rose.
love sits in her smile, a wizard ensnaring;
enthron'd in her een he delivers his law:
and still to her charms she alone is a stranger;
her modest demeanour's the jewel of a'.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns meg o the mill meg o' the mill
o ken ye what meg o' the mill has gotten,
an' ken ye what meg o' the mill has gotten?
she gotten a coof wi' a claut o' siller,
and broken the heart o' the barley miller.
the miller was strappin, the miller was ruddy;
a heart like a lord, and a hue like a lady;
the laird was a widdifu', bleerit knurl;
she's left the gude fellow, and taen the churl.
the miller he hecht her a heart leal and loving,
the lair did address her wi' matter mair moving,
a fine pacing-horse wi' a clear chained bridle,
a whip by her side, and a bonie side-saddle.
o wae on the siller, it is sae prevailin',
and wae on the love that is fixed on a mailen!
a tocher's nae word in a true lover's parle,
but gie me my love, and a fig for the warl'!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns meg o the mill—another version meg o' the mill—another version
o ken ye what meg o' the mill has gotten,
an' ken ye what meg o' the mill has gotten?
a braw new naig wi' the tail o' a rottan,
and that's what meg o' the mill has gotten.
o ken ye what meg o' the mill lo'es dearly,
an' ken ye what meg o' the mill lo'es dearly?
a dram o' gude strunt in the morning early,
and that's what meg o' the mill lo'es dearly.
o ken ye how meg o' the mill was married,
an' ken ye how meg o' the mill was married?
the priest he was oxter'd, the clark he was carried,
and that's how meg o' the mill was married.
o ken ye how meg o' the mill was bedded,
an' ken ye how meg o' the mill was bedded?
the groom gat sae fou', he fell awald beside it,
and that's how meg o' the mill was bedded.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns the soldiers return the soldier's return
air—“the mill, mill, o.”
when wild war's deadly blast was blawn,
and gentle peace returning,
wi' mony a sweet babe fatherless,
and mony a widow mourning;
i left the lines and tented field,
where lang i'd been a lodger,
my humble knapsack a' my wealth,
a poor and honest sodger.
a leal, light heart was in my breast,
my hand unstain'd wi' plunder;
and for fair scotia hame again,
i cheery on did wander:
i thought upon the banks o' coil,
i thought upon my nancy,
i thought upon the witching smile
that caught my youthful fancy.
at length i reach'd the bonie glen,
where early life i sported;
i pass'd the mill and trysting thorn,
where nancy aft i courted:
wha spied i but my ain dear maid,
down by her mother's dwelling!
and turn'd me round to hide the flood
that in my een was swelling.
wi' alter'd voice, &
h i, “sweet lass,
sweet as yon hawthorn's blossom,
o! happy, happy may he be,
that's dearest to thy bosom:
my purse is light, i've far to gang,
and fain would be thy lodger;
i've serv'd my king and country lang—
take pity on a sodger.”
sae wistfully she gaz'd on me,
and lovelier was than ever;
quo' she, “a sodger ance i lo'ed,
forget him shall i never:
our humble cot, and hamely fare,
ye freely shall partake it;
that gallant badge—the dear cockade,
ye're wee for the sake o't.”
she gaz'd—she redden'd like a rose—
syne pale like only lily;
she sank within my arms, and cried,
“art thou my ain dear willie?”
“by him who made yon sun and sky!
by whom true love's regarded,
i am the man; and thus may still
true lovers be rewarded.
“the wars are o'er, and i'me hame,
and find thee still true-hearted;
tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love,
and mair we'se ne'er be parted.”
quo' she, “my grandsire left me gowd,
a mailen plenish'd fairly;
ande, my faithfu' sodger lad,
thou'rt wee to it dearly!”
for gold the merchant ploughs the main,
the farmer ploughs the manor;
but glory is the sodger's prize,
the sodgerpppp's wealth is honor:
the brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
nor count him as a stranger;
remember he's his country's stay,
in day and hour of danger.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns versicles, a.d. 1793 versicles, a.d. 1793
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns the true loyal natives the true loyal natives
ye true “loyal natives” attend to my song
in uproar and riot rejoice the night long;
from envy and hatred your corps is exempt,
but where is your shield from the darts of contempt!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns on commissary goldies brains onmissary goldie's brains
lord, to account who dares thee call,
or e'er dispute thy pleasure?
else why, within so thick a wall,
enclose so poor a treasure?
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns lines inscribed in a ladys pocket almanac lines inscribed in a lady's pocket almanac
grant me, indulgent heaven, that i may live,
to see the miscreants feel the pains they give;
deal freedom's sacred treasures free as air,
till slave and despot be but things that were.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns thanksgiving for a national victory thanksgiving for a national victory
ye hypocrites! are these your pranks?
to murder men and give god thanks!
desist, for shame!—proceed no further;
god won't accept your thanks for murther!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns lines on the commemoration of rodneys victory lines on thememoration of rodney's victory
instead of a song, boy's, i'll give you a toast;
here's to the memory of those on the twelfth that we lost!—
that we lost, did i say?—nay, by heav'n, that we found;
for their fame it will last while the world goes round.
the next in succession i'll give you's the king!
whoe'er would betray him, on high may he swing!
and here's the grand fabric, our free constitution,
as built on the base of our great revolution!
and longer with politics not to be cramm'd,
be anarchy curs'd, and tyranny damn'd!
and who would to liberty e'er prove disloyal,
may his son be a hangman—and he his first trial!
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns the raptures of folly the raptures of folly
thou greybeard, old wisdom! may boast of thy treasures;
give me with young folly to live;
i grant thee thy calm-blooded, time-settled pleasures,
but folly has raptures to give.
Poems and Songs of Robert Burns kirk and state excisemen kirk and state excisemen
ye men of wit and wealth, why all this sneering
'gainst poor excisemen? give the cause a hearing:
what are your landlord's rent-rolls? taxing ledgers!
what premiers? what ev'n monarchs? mighty gaugers!