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] |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
Mischievous Woman.
Could this ill warld hae been contrived
To stand without mischievous woman,
How peacefu' bodies might hae lived,
Released frae a' the ills sae common!
But since it is the waefu' case,
That man maun hae this teazing crony;
Why sic a sweet bewitching face?
Oh, had she no been made sae bonnie!
To stand without mischievous woman,
How peacefu' bodies might hae lived,
Released frae a' the ills sae common!
But since it is the waefu' case,
That man maun hae this teazing crony;
Why sic a sweet bewitching face?
Oh, had she no been made sae bonnie!
I might hae roam'd wi' cheerfu' mind,
Nae sin or sorrow to betide me,
As careless as the wandering wind,
As happy as the lamb beside me;
I might hae screw'd my tunefu' pegs,
And caroll'd mountain airs fu' gaily,
Had we but wantit a' the Megs,
Wi' glossy een sae dark an' wily.
Nae sin or sorrow to betide me,
As careless as the wandering wind,
As happy as the lamb beside me;
I might hae screw'd my tunefu' pegs,
And caroll'd mountain airs fu' gaily,
Had we but wantit a' the Megs,
Wi' glossy een sae dark an' wily.
I saw the danger, fear'd the dart,
The smile, the air, an' a' sae taking,
Yet open laid my wareless heart,
An' gat the wound that keeps me waking.
My harp waves on the willow green,
O' wild witch-notes it has nae ony
Sin' e'er I saw that pawky quean,
Sae sweet, sae wicked, an' sae bonnie!
The smile, the air, an' a' sae taking,
Yet open laid my wareless heart,
An' gat the wound that keeps me waking.
My harp waves on the willow green,
O' wild witch-notes it has nae ony
Sin' e'er I saw that pawky quean,
Sae sweet, sae wicked, an' sae bonnie!
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |