Musa Burschicosa A Book of Songs for Students and University Men. By John Stuart Blackie |
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BOB AND BILLY. |
 | Musa Burschicosa |  |
16
BOB AND BILLY.
Fare thee well, my boy!
Where my brain grows muddy,
You find bright employ,
And fatten on deep study.
While on books you thrive,
Pondering and poring,
Bill must keep alive,
Rambling and exploring.
Where my brain grows muddy,
You find bright employ,
And fatten on deep study.
While on books you thrive,
Pondering and poring,
Bill must keep alive,
Rambling and exploring.
Then God bless thee, boy!
A rose is not a lily,
You be steady Bob,
And I'll be roving Billy!
A rose is not a lily,
You be steady Bob,
And I'll be roving Billy!
You will rise and climb,
On the steps of learning,
To the seat sublime,
Where your heart is yearning:
From the pulpit then
You will flash and thunder,
King of Scottish men,
People's love and wonder!
On the steps of learning,
To the seat sublime,
Where your heart is yearning:
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You will flash and thunder,
King of Scottish men,
People's love and wonder!
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Or perhaps you may,
Should the creeds offend you,
With grave judgment sway
Where fees and wigs attend you;
Sitting like a god,
Thorny laws expounding,
Thrilling with your nod
Awe-struck throngs surrounding!
Should the creeds offend you,
With grave judgment sway
Where fees and wigs attend you;
Sitting like a god,
Thorny laws expounding,
Thrilling with your nod
Awe-struck throngs surrounding!
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Or perhaps you may,
In high deliberation,
With sage counsel sway
The rapt-expecting nation;
And when Church and State
To their base are reeling,
Waft to small and great
Wise words of happy healing.
In high deliberation,
With sage counsel sway
The rapt-expecting nation;
And when Church and State
To their base are reeling,
Waft to small and great
Wise words of happy healing.
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
18
Some are thinkers born,
Some readers, and some riders,
Some from cats do turn,
And some do shrink from spiders;
But I—the truth to tell—
Above all life's embroglios
Do chiefly hate the smell
Of Greek and Latin folios!
Some readers, and some riders,
Some from cats do turn,
And some do shrink from spiders;
But I—the truth to tell—
Above all life's embroglios
Do chiefly hate the smell
Of Greek and Latin folios!
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Something in my blood
Savage and uncivil
Loves by foaming flood
And waving wood to revel:
While my neck is free
From yoke of gilded collar,
Glad I leave to thee
Both dignity and dollar!
Savage and uncivil
Loves by foaming flood
And waving wood to revel:
While my neck is free
From yoke of gilded collar,
Glad I leave to thee
Both dignity and dollar!
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Where the whistling breeze
Swells the roaring billow,
There I rock at ease
On a stormy pillow.
Or where the cannon booms
On field of battle gory,
Dashing through the fumes
I pluck the star of glory!
Swells the roaring billow,
There I rock at ease
On a stormy pillow.
Or where the cannon booms
On field of battle gory,
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I pluck the star of glory!
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Up the cliffy rocks
With the goat I scramble,
With the nimble fox
I jump across the bramble.
Where the tiger stands,
Through the jungle glaring,
My heart leaps to my hands
And revels in the daring.
With the goat I scramble,
With the nimble fox
I jump across the bramble.
Where the tiger stands,
Through the jungle glaring,
My heart leaps to my hands
And revels in the daring.
Then God bless thee, boy! etc.
Now, farewell, Bob, my boy;
While you sit and study,
Bright be still your eye,
And still your cheek be ruddy!
I must go: for me
The ship waits in the harbour;
Wisdom waits for thee
In Plato's thoughtful arbour.
While you sit and study,
Bright be still your eye,
And still your cheek be ruddy!
I must go: for me
The ship waits in the harbour;
Wisdom waits for thee
In Plato's thoughtful arbour.
Then God thee bless, boy!
Nor think my wisdom silly,
That you be steady Bob,
And I be roving Billy.
Nor think my wisdom silly,
That you be steady Bob,
And I be roving Billy.
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