The Poetical Works of Hector MacNeill :: :: University of Virginia Library

‘Lassie wi' the gowden hair,
Silken snood, and face sae fair;
Lassie wi' the yellow hair,
Think nae to deceive me!
Lassie wi' the gowden hair,
Flattering smile, and face sae fair;
Fare ye weel! for never mair
Johnie will believe ye!
O no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, Mary bawn ,
O no! Mary bawn, ye'll nae mair deceive me!

118

Smiling, twice ye made me troo,
Twice—(poor fool!) I turned to woo;
Twice, fause maid! ye brak your vow,
Now I've sworn to leave ye!
Twice, fause maid! ye brak your vow,
Twice, poor fool! I've learned to rue!—
Come ye yet to mak me troo?
Thrice ye'll ne'er deceive me!
No! no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, Mary bawn!
O no! Mary bawn! thrice ye'll ne'er deceive me.’

Mary saw him turn to part;
Deep his words sank in her heart;
Soon the tears began to start—
‘Johnie, will ye leave me!’

119

Soon the tears began to start,
Grit and gritter grew his heart!—
‘Yet ae word befort we part,
Luve cou'd ne'er deceive ye!
O no! Johnie dow, Johnie dow, Johnie dow ,
O no! Johnie dow—luve cou'd ne'er deceive ye.’

Johnie took a parting keek,
Saw the tears hap owre her cheek!
Pale she stood, but coudna speak!—
Mary's cured o'smiling.
Johnie, took anither keek—
‘Beauty's rose has left her cheek!—

120

Pale she stands, and canna speak.
This is nae beguiling.
O no! Mary bawn, Mary bawn, dear Mary bawn,
No, no! Mary bawn—Luve has nae beguiling.

Bawn (Gaelic), fair, white, generally applied to the hair.

Dow (Gaelic), black, generally applied to the hair.