The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd Centenary Edition. With a Memoir of the Author, by the Rev. Thomas Thomson ... Poems and Life. With Many Illustrative Engravings [by James Hogg] |
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
My Dear Little Jeanie.
“My dear little Jeanie, what maks ye sae shy
An' saucy wi' Charlie, whase horses an' kye
Gang wide on the meadow, his ewes on the lea?
An' where will you see sic a laddie as he?”
“Ah! father, if ye ken'd him as weel as I,
How ye wad despise him, his ewes an' his kye!
Whene'er we're our lane, on the meadow or hill,
Ilk word an' ilk action is tendin' to ill.
An' saucy wi' Charlie, whase horses an' kye
Gang wide on the meadow, his ewes on the lea?
An' where will you see sic a laddie as he?”
“Ah! father, if ye ken'd him as weel as I,
How ye wad despise him, his ewes an' his kye!
Whene'er we're our lane, on the meadow or hill,
Ilk word an' ilk action is tendin' to ill.
But Jamie's sae modest, that him I maun ruse;
He'll beg for a kiss, which I canna refuse:
He ne'er gies a look that a lassie needs fear,
Nor yet says a word but the warld may hear.
I ken, my dear father, ye like me sae weel,
That naething frae you I can ever conceal:
Young Charlie is handsome, and gallant to see;
But Jamie, though poorer, is dearer to me.”
He'll beg for a kiss, which I canna refuse:
He ne'er gies a look that a lassie needs fear,
Nor yet says a word but the warld may hear.
I ken, my dear father, ye like me sae weel,
That naething frae you I can ever conceal:
Young Charlie is handsome, and gallant to see;
But Jamie, though poorer, is dearer to me.”
“My sweet little Jeanie, the pride o' my age!
Oh, how I'm delighted to hear you sae sage!
The forward, who maks the young maiden his prey,
Is often caress'd, and the good sent away.
I like ye, my Jeanie, as dear as my life;
Ye've been a kind daughter, sae will ye a wife.
Then gree wi' your Jamie when he comes again;
From this time I'll count him a son o' my ain.”
Oh, how I'm delighted to hear you sae sage!
The forward, who maks the young maiden his prey,
Is often caress'd, and the good sent away.
I like ye, my Jeanie, as dear as my life;
Ye've been a kind daughter, sae will ye a wife.
Then gree wi' your Jamie when he comes again;
From this time I'll count him a son o' my ain.”
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |