Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn edited by Dr. Shelton Mackenzie |
 | I. |
 |
|
BILLY BLINN. |
|
|
| II. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn |  |
240
BILLY BLINN.
I knew a man that died for love,
His name, I ween, was Billy Blinn;
His back was hump'd, his hair was gray,
And, on a sultry summer day,
We found him floating in the linn.
His name, I ween, was Billy Blinn;
His back was hump'd, his hair was gray,
And, on a sultry summer day,
We found him floating in the linn.
Once as he stood before his door,
Smoking, and wondering who should pass,
Then trundling past him in a cart
Came Susan Foy, she won his heart,
She was a gallant lass.
Smoking, and wondering who should pass,
Then trundling past him in a cart
Came Susan Foy, she won his heart,
She was a gallant lass.
And Billy Blinn conceal'd the flame
That burn'd, and scorch'd his very blood;
But often was he heard to sigh,
And with his sleeve he wiped his eye,
In a dejected mood.
That burn'd, and scorch'd his very blood;
But often was he heard to sigh,
And with his sleeve he wiped his eye,
In a dejected mood.
A party of recruiters came
To wile our cottars, man and boy;
Their coats were red, their cuffs were blue,
And boldly, without more ado,
Off with the troop went Susan Foy!
To wile our cottars, man and boy;
Their coats were red, their cuffs were blue,
And boldly, without more ado,
Off with the troop went Susan Foy!
When poor old Billy heard the news,
He tore his hairs so thin and gray;
He beat the hump upon his back,
And ever did he cry, “Alack,
Ohon, oh me!—alas a-day!”
He tore his hairs so thin and gray;
He beat the hump upon his back,
And ever did he cry, “Alack,
Ohon, oh me!—alas a-day!”
His nights were spent in sleeplessness,
His days in sorrow and despair;
It could not last—this inward strife;
The lover he grew tired of life,
And saunter'd here and there.
His days in sorrow and despair;
It could not last—this inward strife;
The lover he grew tired of life,
And saunter'd here and there.
At length, 'twas on a moonlight eve,
The skies were blue, the winds were still;
He wander'd from his wretched hut
And, though he left the door unshut,
He sought the lonely hill.
The skies were blue, the winds were still;
He wander'd from his wretched hut
241
He sought the lonely hill.
He look'd upon the lovely moon,
He look'd upon the twinkling stars;
“How peaceful all is there,” he said,
“No noisy tumult there is bred,
And no intestine wars.”
He look'd upon the twinkling stars;
“How peaceful all is there,” he said,
“No noisy tumult there is bred,
And no intestine wars.”
But misery overcame his heart,
For all was waste and war within;
And rushing forward with a leap,
O'er crags a hundred fathoms steep,
He plunged into the linn.
For all was waste and war within;
And rushing forward with a leap,
O'er crags a hundred fathoms steep,
He plunged into the linn.
We found him when the morning sun
Shone brightly from the eastern sky;
Upon his back he was afloat—
His hat was sailing like a boat—
His staff was found on high.
Shone brightly from the eastern sky;
Upon his back he was afloat—
His hat was sailing like a boat—
His staff was found on high.
Oh, reckless woman, Susan Foy,
To leave the poor, old, loving man,
And with a soldier, young and gay,
Thus harlot-like to run away
To India or Japan.
To leave the poor, old, loving man,
And with a soldier, young and gay,
Thus harlot-like to run away
To India or Japan.
Poor Billy Blinn, with hair so white,
Poor Billy Blinn was stiff and cold;
Will Adze he made a coffin neat,
We placed him in it head and feet,
And laid him in the mould!
Poor Billy Blinn was stiff and cold;
Will Adze he made a coffin neat,
We placed him in it head and feet,
And laid him in the mould!
| Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn | |