The works of Allan Ramsay :: :: University of Virginia Library

PEGGY.
When first my dear laddie gade to the green hill,
And I at ew-milking first seyd my young skill,
To bear the milk-bowie, nae pain was to me,
When I at the bughting forgather'd with thee.

PATIE.
When corn-riggs wav'd yellow, and blew hether-bells
Bloom'd bonny on moorland and sweet rising fells,
Nae birns, brier, or breckens, gave trouble to me,
If I found the berries right ripen'd for thee.

PEGGY.
When thou ran, or wrestled, or putted the stane,
And came aff the victor, my heart was ay fain:
Thy ilka sport manly, gave pleasure to me;
For nane can put, wrestle or run swift as thee.

PATIE.
Our Jenny sings saftly the Cowden Broom-Knows,
And Rosie lilts sweetly the milking the ews;

There's few Jenny Nettles like Nansy can sing,
At throw the wood laddie, Bess gars our lugs ring:
But when my dear Peggy sings with better skill,
The boat-man, tweed-side, or the lass of the mill,
'Tis many times sweeter and pleasing to me;
For tho' they sing nicely, they cannot like thee.

PEGGY.
How easy can lasses trow what they desire?
And praises sae kindly increases love's fire;
Give me still this pleasure, my study shall be
To make my self better and sweeter for thee.

[_]

Omitted here is SANG XI. By the delicious warmness of thy mouth. Sung by Patie and Peggy, p. 32, printed in the Pastoral; and in Tea-Table Miscellany, Vol. I. p. 151. [In S.T.S. Edition. Vol. I: pp. 183–4 and Vol. II: p. 236.]