University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Jenny pretends an Errand hame,
Young Roger draps the rest,
To whisper out his melting Flame,
And thow his Lassie's Breast.
Behind a Bush, well hid frae sight, they meet:
See Jenny's laughing; Roger's like to greet.
Poor Shepherd!

ROGER and JENNY.
Rog.
Dear Jenny, I wad speak to ye, wad ye let;
And yet I ergh, ye're ay sae scornfu' set.

Jen.
And what would Roger say, if he could speak?
Am I oblig'd to guess what ye're to seek.

Rog.
Yes, ye may guess right eith for what I grein,
Baith by my Service, Sighs, and langing Een.
And I maun out wi't, tho' I risk your Scorn;
Ye're never frae my Thoughts baith Ev'n and Morn.
Ah! cou'd I loo ye less, I'd happy be;
But happier far, cou'd ye but fancy me.

Jen.
And wha kens, honest Lad, but that I may;
Ye canna say that e'er I said ye nay.

Rog.
Alake! my frighted Heart begins to fail,
When e'er I mint to tell ye out my Tale,
For fear some tighter Lad, mair rich than I,
Has win your Love, and near your Heart may ly.

Jen.
I loo my Father, Cousin Meg I love;
But to this Day, nae Man my Mind could move:
Except my Kin, ilk Lad's alike to me;
And frae ye all I best had keep me free.

Rog.
How lang, dear Jenny?—Sayna that again;
What Pleasure can ye tak in giving Pain?
I'm glad, however, that ye yet stand free:
Wha kens but ye may rue, and pity me?

Jen.
Ye have my Pity else, to see ye set
On that whilk makes our Sweetness soon foryet.
Wow! but we're bonny, good, and every thing;
How sweet we breathe, when e'er we kiss, or sing!
But we're nae sooner Fools to give Consent,
Than we our Daffine and tint Power repent:
When prison'd in four Waws, a Wife right tame,
Altho' the first, the greatest Drudge at hame.

Rog.
That only happens, when for sake of Gear,
Ane wales a Wife, as he wad buy a Mear;
Or when dull Parents Bairns together bind
Of different Tempers, that can ne'er prove kind.
But Love, true downright Love, engages me,
Tho' thou should scorn,—still to delight in thee.

Jen.
What suggar'd Words frae Woers Lips can fa'!
But girning Marriage comes and ends them a'.
I've seen with shining Fair the Morning rise,
And soon the sleety Clouds mirk a' the Skies.
I've seen the Silver Spring a while rin clear,
And soon in Mossy Puddles disappear.
Ths Bridegroom may rejoice, the Bride may smile;
But soon Contentions a' their Joys beguile.

Rog.
I've seen the Morning rise with fairest Light,
The Day unclouded sink in calmest Night.
I've seen the Spring rin wimpling thro' the Plain,
Increase and join the Ocean without Stain.
The Bridegroom may be blyth, the Bride may smile;
Rejoice thro' Life, and all your Fears beguile.

Jen.
Were I but sure you lang wou'd Love maintain,
The fewest Words my easy Heart could gain:
For I maun own, since now at last you're free,
Altho' I jok'd, I lov'd your Company;
And ever had a Warmness in my Breast,
That made ye dearer to me than the rest.

Rog.
I'm happy now! o'er happy! had my Head!—
This Gush of Pleasure's like to be my Dead.
Come to my Arms! or strike me! I'm all fir'd
With wondring Love! let's kiss till we be tir'd.
Kiss, kiss! we'll kiss the Sun and Starns away,
And ferly at the quick Return of Day!
O Jenny! let my Arms about thee twine,
And briss thy bonny Breasts and Lips to mine

Jen.
With equal Joy my easy Heart gi'es Way,
To own thy well try'd Love has won the Day.
Now by these warmest Kisses thou has tane,
Swear thus to love me, when by Vows made ane.

Rog.
I swear by Fifty thousand yet to come,
Or may the first ane strike me deaf and dumb,
There shall not be a kindlier dawted Wife,
If you agree with me to lead your Life.

Jen.
Well, I agree:—Neist, to my Parent gae,
Get his Consent;—he'll hardly say ye nay.
Ye have what will commend ye to him well,
Auld Fowks like them that wants na Milk and Meal.

Rog.
My Faulds contain twice fifteen Forrow Nowt,
As mony Newcal in my Byers rowt;
Five Pack of Woo I can at Lammas sell,
Shorn frae my bob-tail'd Bleeters on the Fell:
Good twenty Pair of Blankets for our Bed,
With meikle Care, my thrifty Mither made.
Ilk thing that makes a heartsome House and tight,
Was still her Care, my Father's great Delight.
They left me all; which now gi'es Joy to me,
Because I can give a', my Dear, to thee:
And had I fifty times as meikle mair,
Nane but my Jenny should the samen skair.
My Love and All is yours; now had them fast,
And guide them as ye like, to gar them last.

Jen.
I'll do my best—But see wha comes this Way,
Patie and Meg;—besides, I mauna stay:
Let's steal frae ither now, and meet the Morn;
If we be seen, we'll drie a deal of Scorn.

Rog.
To where the Saugh-trees shades the Mennin-pool,
I'll frae the Hill come down, when Day grows cool:
Keep Triste, and meet me there;—there let us meet,
To kiss, and tell our Love;—there's nought sae sweet.