Delphi Complete Works of Robert Burns (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series) (81 page)
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Authors: Robert Burns
520.
Ballad on Mr. Heron’s Election — No. 3
John Bushby’s Lamentation.
Tune
— “Babes in the Wood.”
‘TWAS in the seventeen hunder year
O’ grace, and ninety-five,
That year I was the wae’est man
Of ony man alive.
In March the three-an’-twentieth morn,
5
The sun raise clear an’ bright;
But oh! I was a waefu’ man,
Ere to-fa’ o’ the night.
Yerl Galloway lang did rule this land,
Wi’ equal right and fame,
10
And thereto was his kinsmen join’d,
The Murray’s noble name.
Yerl Galloway’s man o’ men was I,
And chief o’ Broughton’s host;
So twa blind beggars, on a string,
15
The faithfu’ tyke will trust.
But now Yerl Galloway’s sceptre’s broke,
And Broughton’s wi’ the slain,
And I my ancient craft may try,
Sin’ honesty is gane.
20
‘Twas by the banks o’ bonie Dee,
Beside Kirkcudbright’s towers,
The Stewart and the Murray there,
Did muster a’ their powers.
Then Murray on the auld grey yaud,
25
Wi’ winged spurs did ride,
That auld grey yaud a’ Nidsdale rade,
He staw upon Nidside.
And there had na been the Yerl himsel,
O there had been nae play;
30
But Garlies was to London gane,
And sae the kye might stray.
And there was Balmaghie, I ween,
In front rank he wad shine;
But Balmaghie had better been
35
Drinkin’ Madeira wine.
And frae Glenkens cam to our aid
A chief o’ doughty deed;
In case that worth should wanted be,
O’ Kenmure we had need.
40
And by our banners march’d Muirhead,
And Buittle was na slack;
Whase haly priesthood nane could stain,
For wha could dye the black?
And there was grave squire Cardoness,
45
Look’d on till a’ was done;
Sae in the tower o’ Cardoness
A howlet sits at noon.
And there led I the Bushby clan,
My gamesome billie, Will,
50
And my son Maitland, wise as brave,
My footsteps follow’d still.
The Douglas and the Heron’s name,
We set nought to their score;
The Douglas and the Heron’s name,
55
Had felt our weight before.
But Douglasses o’ weight had we,
The pair o’ lusty lairds,
For building cot-houses sae fam’d,
And christenin’ kail-yards.
60
And there Redcastle drew his sword,
That ne’er was stain’d wi’ gore,
Save on a wand’rer lame and blind,
To drive him frae his door.
And last cam creepin’ Collieston,
65
Was mair in fear than wrath;
Ae knave was constant in his mind —
To keep that knave frae scaith.
•
•
•
•
521.
Inscription for an Alter of Independence
At Kerroughtree, the Seat of Mr. Heron.
THOU of an independent mind,
With soul resolv’d, with soul resign’d;
Prepar’d Power’s proudest frown to brave,
Who wilt not be, nor have a slave;
Virtue alone who dost revere,
5
Thy own reproach alone dost fear —
Approach this shrine, and worship here.
522.
The Cardin o’t, the Spinning o’t (Song)
I COFT a stane o’ haslock woo’,
To mak a wab to Johnie o’t;
For Johnie is my only jo,
I loe him best of onie yet.
Chorus.
— The cardin’ o’t, the spinnin’ o’t,
5
The warpin’ o’t, the winnin’ o’t;
When ilka ell cost me a groat,
The tailor staw the lynin’ o’t.
For tho’ his locks be lyart grey,
And tho’ his brow be beld aboon,
10
Yet I hae seen him on a day,
The pride of a’ the parishen.
The cardin o’t, &c.
523.
Tune
— “Bab at the bowster.”
Chorus
— We’ll hide the Cooper behint the door,
Behint the door, behint the door,
We’ll hide the Cooper behint the door,
And cover him under a mawn, O.
THE COOPER o’ Cuddy came here awa,
5
He ca’d the girrs out o’er us a’;
An’ our gudewife has gotten a ca’,
That’s anger’d the silly gudeman O.
We’ll hide the Cooper, &c.
He sought them out, he sought them in,
10
Wi’ deil hae her! an’, deil hae him!
But the body he was sae doited and blin’,
He wist na where he was gaun O.
We’ll hide the Cooper, &c.
They cooper’d at e’en, they cooper’d at morn,
15
Till our gudeman has gotten the scorn;
On ilka brow she’s planted a horn,
And swears that there they sall stan’ O.
We’ll hide the Cooper, &c.
524.
The lass that made the bed to me (Song)
WHEN Januar’ wind was blawing cauld,
As to the north I took my way,
The mirksome night did me enfauld,
I knew na where to lodge till day:
By my gude luck a maid I met,
5
Just in the middle o’ my care,
And kindly she did me invite
To walk into a chamber fair.
I bow’d fu’ low unto this maid,
And thank’d her for her courtesie;
10
I bow’d fu’ low unto this maid,
An’ bade her make a bed to me;
She made the bed baith large and wide,
Wi’ twa white hands she spread it doun;
She put the cup to her rosy lips,
15
And drank— “Young man, now sleep ye soun’.”
Chorus.
— The bonie lass made the bed to me,
The braw lass made the bed to me,
I’ll ne’er forget till the day I die,
The lass that made the bed to me.
20
She snatch’d the candle in her hand,
And frae my chamber went wi’ speed;
But I call’d her quickly back again,
To lay some mair below my head:
A cod she laid below my head,
25
And servèd me with due respect,
And, to salute her wi’ a kiss,
I put my arms about her neck.
The bonie lass, &c.
“Haud aff your hands, young man!” she said,
30
“And dinna sae uncivil be;
Gif ye hae ony luve for me,
O wrang na my virginitie.”
Her hair was like the links o’ gowd,
Her teeth were like the ivorie,
35
Her cheeks like lilies dipt in wine,
The lass that made the bed to me:
The bonie lass, &c.
Her bosom was the driven snaw,
Twa drifted heaps sae fair to see;
40
Her limbs the polish’d marble stane,
The lass that made the bed to me.
I kiss’d her o’er and o’er again,
And aye she wist na what to say:
I laid her ‘tween me and the wa’;
45
The lassie thocht na lang till day.
The bonie lass, &c.
Upon the morrow when we raise,
I thank’d her for her courtesie;
But aye she blush’d and aye she sigh’d,
50
And said, “Alas, ye’ve ruin’d me.”
I claps’d her waist, and kiss’d her syne,
While the tear stood twinkling in her e’e;
I said, my lassie, dinna cry.
For ye aye shall make the bed to me.
55
The bonie lass, &c.
She took her mither’s holland sheets,
An’ made them a’ in sarks to me;
Blythe and merry may she be,
The lass that made the bed to me.
60
Chorus.
— The bonie lass made the bed to me,
The braw lass made the bed to me.
I’ll ne’er forget till the day I die,
The lass that made the bed to me.
525.
Had I the wyte, she bade me (Song)
HAD I the wyte, had I the wyte,
Had I the wyte? she bade me;
She watch’d me by the hie-gate side,
And up the loan she shaw’d me.
And when I wadna venture in,
5
A coward loon she ca’d me:
Had Kirk an’ State been in the gate,
I’d lighted when she bade me.
Sae craftilie she took me ben,
And bade me mak nae clatter;
10
“For our ramgunshoch, glum gudeman
Is o’er ayont the water.”
Whae’er shall say I wanted grace,
When I did kiss and dawte her,
Let him be planted in my place,
15
Syne say, I was the fautor.
Could I for shame, could I for shame,
Could I for shame refus’d her;
And wadna manhood been to blame,
Had I unkindly used her!
20
He claw’d her wi’ the ripplin-kame,
And blae and bluidy bruis’d her;
When sic a husband was frae hame,
What wife but wad excus’d her!
I dighted aye her e’en sae blue,
25
An’ bann’d the cruel randy,
And weel I wat, her willin’ mou
Was sweet as sugar-candie.
At gloamin-shot, it was I wot,
I lighted on the Monday;
30
But I cam thro’ the Tyseday’s dew,
To wanton Willie’s brandy.