The Poetry of Robert Burns Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson |
 | I. |
| 2. |
 | III. |
THERE WAS A LASS |
| IV. |
 | The Poetry of Robert Burns |  |
THERE WAS A LASS
I
There was a lass, and she was fair!At kirk and market to be seen
When a' our fairest maids were met,
The fairest maid was bonie Jean.
II
And ay she wrought her country wark,And ay she sang sae merrilie:
The blythest bird upon the bush
Had ne'er a lighter heart than she!
III
But hawks will rob the tender joys,That bless the little lintwhite's nest,
And frost will blight the fairest flowers,
And love will break the soundest rest.
282
IV
Young Robie was the brawest lad,The flower and pride of a' the glen,
And he had owsen, sheep, and kye,
And wanton naigies nine or ten.
V
He gaed wi' Jeanie to the tryste,He danc'd wi' Jeanie on the down,
And, lang ere witless Jeanie wist,
Her heart was tint, her peace was stown!
VI
As in the bosom of the streamThe moon-beam dwells at dewy e'en,
So, trembling pure, was tender love
Within the breast of bonie Jean.
VII
And now she works her country's wark,And ay she sighs wi' care and pain,
Yet wist na what her ail might be,
Or what wad make her weel again.
VIII
But did na Jeanie's heart loup light,And did na joy blink in her e'e,
As Robie tauld a tale o' love
Ae e'enin on the lily lea?
283
IX
While monie a bird sang sweet o' love,And monie a flower blooms o'er the dale,
His cheek to hers he aft did lay,
And whisper'd thus his tender tale:—
X
‘O Jeanie fair, I lo'e thee dear.O, canst thou think to fancy me?
Or wilt thou leave thy mammie's cot,
And learn to tent the farms wi' me?
XI
At barn or byre thou shalt na drudge,Or naething else to trouble thee,
But stray amang the heather-bells,
And tent the waving corn wi' me.’
XII
Now what could artless Jeanie do?She had nae will to say him na!
At length she blush'd a sweet consent,
And love was ay between them twa.
| The Poetry of Robert Burns | |