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] |
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Robin an' Nanny.
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 | The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd |  |
Robin an' Nanny.
[_]
This ballad, or rather rural tale, was written at a period of life so early, that I have quite forgotten when and in what circumstances it was written: but I think I have had the manuscript by me upwards of twenty years. It is exceedingly imperfect; but a natural fondness for the productions of my early years, and some recollections that have scarcely left a trace behind, induce me to give it a place. It has not the least resemblance in style to aught I have written since, and I believe I have nothing in my hand that was previously written. Those who wish me well will not regret that my style has undergone such a manifest change; for into a worse one it could scarcely have fallen.
Snell an' frosty was the dawin',
Blue the lift as ony bell,
Cauld the norlan' wind was blawin',
Fast the drift came owre the fell;
Blue the lift as ony bell,
Cauld the norlan' wind was blawin',
Fast the drift came owre the fell;
Whan poor Nanny, softly creepin'
Out frae yont her auld gudeman,
Wha she trow'd was soundly sleepin',
Though he heard how a' was gaun;
Out frae yont her auld gudeman,
Wha she trow'd was soundly sleepin',
Though he heard how a' was gaun;
Wi' her heather-cowe clean wiping
A' the floor, frae end to end;
Soon the reek gaed blue an' piping
Up the lum wi' mony a bend.
A' the floor, frae end to end;
Soon the reek gaed blue an' piping
Up the lum wi' mony a bend.
Then within her little sheelin',
On a wee lock cosey hay,
Nanny cowered, and humbly kneelin',
Sighin', thus begoud to pray:—
On a wee lock cosey hay,
Nanny cowered, and humbly kneelin',
Sighin', thus begoud to pray:—
“Father o' the yird an' heaven,
Thou wha leev'st aboon the sky,
Wha a mind to me hast given,
An' a saul that canna die;
Thou wha leev'st aboon the sky,
Wha a mind to me hast given,
An' a saul that canna die;
“Though I've often wandered frae thee,
Thoughtless o' thy love to me;
Nae where can I flee but to thee,
Nae ane can I trust but thee.
Thoughtless o' thy love to me;
Nae where can I flee but to thee,
Nae ane can I trust but thee.
“Little hae I had to grieve me;
Now my heart is unco sair;
My puir lassie, forced to leave me,
Take, O take her to thy care!
Now my heart is unco sair;
My puir lassie, forced to leave me,
Take, O take her to thy care!
“Whan thou gae'st her I was gratefu',
Whan thou tak'st her I'll resign;
Why sude I be fleyed or fretfu'?
She's i' better hands than mine.
Whan thou tak'st her I'll resign;
Why sude I be fleyed or fretfu'?
She's i' better hands than mine.
92
“But she's bonnie, young, an' friendless,
Gars me think o' her the mair;
Yet I'll trust her to thy kindness;
Take, O take her to thy care!”
Gars me think o' her the mair;
Yet I'll trust her to thy kindness;
Take, O take her to thy care!”
Robin, though he couldna see her,
Listened weel to a' she said;
Fixed his kindly heart was wi' her,
Joinin' ilka vow she made.
Listened weel to a' she said;
Fixed his kindly heart was wi' her,
Joinin' ilka vow she made.
Through the cot then bustled Nanny,
Busy out an' in she ran;
Yet wi' footsteps fleet an' cannie,
Laith to waken her gudeman.
Busy out an' in she ran;
Yet wi' footsteps fleet an' cannie,
Laith to waken her gudeman.
“Hout,” quo' he, “ye crazy gawkie,
What has gart ye rise so soon?”
“Troth, gudeman, our wee bit hawkie,
Twice had raised the hungry croon.
What has gart ye rise so soon?”
“Troth, gudeman, our wee bit hawkie,
Twice had raised the hungry croon.
“At the door the chickens yaupit,
Keen the wind comes owre the lea,
Deep wi' snaw the grun' is happit,
Puir things! they war like to die.”
Keen the wind comes owre the lea,
Deep wi' snaw the grun' is happit,
Puir things! they war like to die.”
“Auld, dementit, donnart creature,
Gudesake! quat this fyky way,
Else your cares will bang your nature,
An' ye'll dee afore your day.
Gudesake! quat this fyky way,
Else your cares will bang your nature,
An' ye'll dee afore your day.
“Aye sin' ever Mary left ye,
A' the night ye hotch an' grane;
Ye've o' sleep an' rest bereft me,
Lye i' peace, or lye your lane.
A' the night ye hotch an' grane;
Ye've o' sleep an' rest bereft me,
Lye i' peace, or lye your lane.
“Langer here she wadna tarry;
But she's virtuous as she's fair:
What's to ail our bonnie Mary!
What means a' this restless care?”
But she's virtuous as she's fair:
What's to ail our bonnie Mary!
What means a' this restless care?”
“Dinna, Robin, dinna vex me,
Laith am I frae rest to keep;
But my dreams sae sair perplex me,
I dare nouther rest nor sleep.
Laith am I frae rest to keep;
But my dreams sae sair perplex me,
I dare nouther rest nor sleep.
“Dreams maun a' be redd, believe me;
Visions are nae sent in vain;
Reason canna now relieve me,
Canna ease my eerie pain.
Visions are nae sent in vain;
Reason canna now relieve me,
Canna ease my eerie pain.
“Surely when asleep we're lyin',
Like a lump o' senseless clay,
Then our sauls are busy flyin',
Viewin' places far away.”
Like a lump o' senseless clay,
Then our sauls are busy flyin',
Viewin' places far away.”
“Wad ye, stupit, crazy body,
Quite owreturn philosophye?
Owre an' owre again I've showed ye
Sic a thing can never be.
Quite owreturn philosophye?
Owre an' owre again I've showed ye
Sic a thing can never be.
“If our sauls were sent a-rangin',
To Jerus'lem or the moon,
In a moment wakenin', changin',
How cou'd they come back sae soon?
To Jerus'lem or the moon,
In a moment wakenin', changin',
How cou'd they come back sae soon?
“They're within us, never doubt them;
If they dandered here an' there,
What way cou'd we leeve without them?
We wad never waken mair.
If they dandered here an' there,
What way cou'd we leeve without them?
We wad never waken mair.
“Nanny, whan your spirit leaves you,
Lang an' sound your sleep will be!
Let nae wayward fancies grieve you;
Tear o' thine I downa see.”
Lang an' sound your sleep will be!
Let nae wayward fancies grieve you;
Tear o' thine I downa see.”
“Never war my dreams sae eerie,
But their meanin' I hae seen;
I, this mornin', raise mair weary
Than I gaed to bed yestreen.
But their meanin' I hae seen;
I, this mornin', raise mair weary
Than I gaed to bed yestreen.
“Never mair, whate'er betide me,
May I sic a vision see;
My dear Mary sat aside me,
Lovely as she wont to be.
May I sic a vision see;
My dear Mary sat aside me,
Lovely as she wont to be.
“On her lap a birdie restit,
Kind it look'd, an' sweetly sang;
Whan her lily hand caressed it,
Wi' its notes the woodlands rang.
Kind it look'd, an' sweetly sang;
Whan her lily hand caressed it,
Wi' its notes the woodlands rang.
“Aye it waxed, an' flaffed, an' hootit,
Till an awsome beast it grew;
Still she fonder grew about it,
Though it pecked her black an' blue.
Till an awsome beast it grew;
Still she fonder grew about it,
Though it pecked her black an' blue.
“Soon her face in beauty's blossom,
A' wi' blude an' fleekers hang;
Still she pressed it to her bosom,
Grat, but wadna let it gang.
A' wi' blude an' fleekers hang;
Still she pressed it to her bosom,
Grat, but wadna let it gang.
“A' her breast was torn an' woundit,
Or the monster took its flight;
Never was my heart sae stoundit!
Never saw I sic a sight!
Or the monster took its flight;
Never was my heart sae stoundit!
Never saw I sic a sight!
“Something ails our bonnie Mary,
Sure as glents the mornin' sun.”
Robin leugh, an' jibit sairly,
But wi' him it was nae fun.
Sure as glents the mornin' sun.”
Robin leugh, an' jibit sairly,
But wi' him it was nae fun.
Up he raise wi' fears inspired,
Rowed him in his gaucy plaid,
To the hay-stack dass retired,
Laid his bonnet off his head:
Rowed him in his gaucy plaid,
To the hay-stack dass retired,
Laid his bonnet off his head:
Then, in tone right melancholy,
Lyin' grooflin' on the hay,
There he prayed in words most holy,
For his Mary far away.
Lyin' grooflin' on the hay,
There he prayed in words most holy,
For his Mary far away.
Mary was baith young an' clever,
Sweet as e'enin's softest gale;
Fairer flower than Mary never
Blossomed in a Highland dale.
Sweet as e'enin's softest gale;
Fairer flower than Mary never
Blossomed in a Highland dale.
Blythe the lark her notes can vary,
Light the lamb skips owre the lea;
Blyther than the lark was Mary,
Lighter than the lamb was she.
Light the lamb skips owre the lea;
Blyther than the lark was Mary,
Lighter than the lamb was she.
93
She had seen the eighteenth summer
Hap wi' blooms the Highland lea,
Weel the heather-bells become her,
Wavin' owre her dark ee-bree.
Hap wi' blooms the Highland lea,
Weel the heather-bells become her,
Wavin' owre her dark ee-bree.
Muckle lair they twa had taught her,
Fittin' her for ony thing:
Mary was an only daughter;
She cou'd read, an' write, an' sing.
Fittin' her for ony thing:
Mary was an only daughter;
She cou'd read, an' write, an' sing.
Now that she's for service ready,
She maun gae her bread to earn;
To the town to wait her lady,
An' the city gaits to learn.
She maun gae her bread to earn;
To the town to wait her lady,
An' the city gaits to learn.
Nanny sighed, an' grat, an kissed her—
She was aye a bairn sae kind!
Robin just shook hands, an' blessed her,
Bidding her her Maker mind.
She was aye a bairn sae kind!
Robin just shook hands, an' blessed her,
Bidding her her Maker mind.
Cauld, that day, came in the winter,
Light she tripped adown the dale;
Dash, a gig came up ahint her,
Swifter than the mountain gale.
Light she tripped adown the dale;
Dash, a gig came up ahint her,
Swifter than the mountain gale.
“Bonnie lassie, ye'll be weary,
Will ye mount an' ride wi' me?”
“Thank ye, sir; but, troth, I'm eiry
Sic a sight ye doughtna see.
Will ye mount an' ride wi' me?”
“Thank ye, sir; but, troth, I'm eiry
Sic a sight ye doughtna see.
“Gentle fo'ks are unco saucy,
Tauntin' aye the blate an' mean.”
“Woh!” quo' he, “—your hand, my lassie,
Sit ye there an' tak a lean.”
Tauntin' aye the blate an' mean.”
“Woh!” quo' he, “—your hand, my lassie,
Sit ye there an' tak a lean.”
Crack the whip came,—snortin', prancin',
Down the glen the courser sprang;
Mary's heart wi' joy was dancin',
Baith her lugs wi' pleasure rang.
Down the glen the courser sprang;
Mary's heart wi' joy was dancin',
Baith her lugs wi' pleasure rang.
Whan the eagle quits his eyrie,
Fast he leaves the cliffs behind;
Swifter flew our spark an' Mary—
Faster cluve the winter wind.
Fast he leaves the cliffs behind;
Swifter flew our spark an' Mary—
Faster cluve the winter wind.
Ford nor ferry aince detained them,
Fleet they skimmed the dale an' doon—
Steeples, towers, an' hills, behind them
Vanished like the settin' moon.
Fleet they skimmed the dale an' doon—
Steeples, towers, an' hills, behind them
Vanished like the settin' moon.
At the stages where they rested,
Fast they drank the bluid-red wine;
Mary thought (her smile confessed it),
Never man was ha'f sae kin'.
Fast they drank the bluid-red wine;
Mary thought (her smile confessed it),
Never man was ha'f sae kin'.
By the way his arm was round her,
Firm, for fear that she should fa';
Aft his glances raised her wonder,
Aye she blushed an' turned awa.
Firm, for fear that she should fa';
Aft his glances raised her wonder,
Aye she blushed an' turned awa.
First he pressed her hand—he kissed it—
Then her cheek wi' sair ado—
Lang or night, whane'er he listit,
Aye he pree'd her cherry mou'.
Then her cheek wi' sair ado—
Lang or night, whane'er he listit,
Aye he pree'd her cherry mou'.
Kind her heart, o' guile unwary,
Taken by his generous way,
Bonny Mary, artless Mary,
Step by step was led astray.
Taken by his generous way,
Bonny Mary, artless Mary,
Step by step was led astray.
Through the window aft they taukit,
Whan the street was hushed an' still;
Ilka Sunday out they walkit,
To the glen or bracken hill.
Whan the street was hushed an' still;
Ilka Sunday out they walkit,
To the glen or bracken hill.
Whan the flower o' gowd sae yellow
Owre the broom-wood splendour threw;
Whan the breeze, sae mild and mellow,
Frae the primrose drank the dew;
Owre the broom-wood splendour threw;
Whan the breeze, sae mild and mellow,
Frae the primrose drank the dew;
In a bower o' willow bushes,
Oft at noontide wad they lye,
Strewed wi' flowers, and saft wi' rushes,
Happed wi' foliage frae the sky.
Oft at noontide wad they lye,
Strewed wi' flowers, and saft wi' rushes,
Happed wi' foliage frae the sky.
Owre their heads his rural ditty
Sang the blackbird on the spray;
Pretty songster! O for pity,
Cease thy am'rous roundelay!
Sang the blackbird on the spray;
Pretty songster! O for pity,
Cease thy am'rous roundelay!
See, the modest daisy blushes,
Bonnie birks they wave an' weep;
While the breeze, among the bushes,
Wails for virtue lulled asleep.
Bonnie birks they wave an' weep;
While the breeze, among the bushes,
Wails for virtue lulled asleep.
Can ye pour your notes sae airy,
Wildly owre the woodland dale,
While the kind and bonnie Mary
Ever maun the time bewail?
Wildly owre the woodland dale,
While the kind and bonnie Mary
Ever maun the time bewail?
Mary's parents sairly missed her,
Word o' her they couldna learn;
Love an' sorrow sae harassed her,
She grew an unmindfu' bairn.
Word o' her they couldna learn;
Love an' sorrow sae harassed her,
She grew an unmindfu' bairn.
A' their reas'nin' late an' early,
Only hetter blew the coal—
Robin's heart misgae him sairly,
Nanny could nae langer thole.
Only hetter blew the coal—
Robin's heart misgae him sairly,
Nanny could nae langer thole.
Robin washed his wedding bonnet,
Hang it on the clipse to dry;
Sindry methes an' maels war on it;
It had lien lang idle by.
Hang it on the clipse to dry;
Sindry methes an' maels war on it;
It had lien lang idle by.
Robin's Sunday coat and doublet
Nanny brushed fu' braw an' clean;
Streekit they had lien untroublit—
Seldom needit—seldom seen.
Nanny brushed fu' braw an' clean;
Streekit they had lien untroublit—
Seldom needit—seldom seen.
Clean his chin, sae aft weel theekit;
White his serk as driven snaw:
His gray hair weel kaimed an' sleekit;
Robin looked fu' trig an' braw.
White his serk as driven snaw:
His gray hair weel kaimed an' sleekit;
Robin looked fu' trig an' braw.
“Nanny, now it's near midsimmer,
Keep the yows an' kye frae skaith,
I maun see the dear young limmer,
Though to gang sae far I'm laith.
Keep the yows an' kye frae skaith,
I maun see the dear young limmer,
Though to gang sae far I'm laith.
94
“She might write, the careless hussey,
Gladly I wad postage pay;
But, nae doubt, she's hadden busy,
Maybe baith by night an' day.
Gladly I wad postage pay;
But, nae doubt, she's hadden busy,
Maybe baith by night an' day.
She's a trust consigned by Heaven
To our arms to guard and guide;
She's a gift in kindness given;
She's our ain whate'er betide.
To our arms to guard and guide;
She's a gift in kindness given;
She's our ain whate'er betide.
“Let nae sinfu' doubts distress ye;
Heavy news are waur than nane:
If the lassie's fair an' healthy,
In a week I'll come again.”
Heavy news are waur than nane:
If the lassie's fair an' healthy,
In a week I'll come again.”
Nibbie in his nieve he lockit,
Round his waist his plaid he twined;
Bread an' cheese in ilka pocket,
Robin left his cot behind.
Round his waist his plaid he twined;
Bread an' cheese in ilka pocket,
Robin left his cot behind.
Scen'ry grand, nor castle gaudy,
Drew ae glowr frae Robin's ee;
On he joggit, slaw an' sadly,
Nought but Mary mindit he.
Drew ae glowr frae Robin's ee;
On he joggit, slaw an' sadly,
Nought but Mary mindit he.
Men an' boys at nought he set them,
Question coudna draw reply;
Every bonnie lass that met him,
Sharp he looked till she was by.
Question coudna draw reply;
Every bonnie lass that met him,
Sharp he looked till she was by.
Aye as he the town drew nigher,
Wonder kythed i' Robin's leuks;
Chariots rattled by like fire—
“What a routh o' lords an' dukes!”
Wonder kythed i' Robin's leuks;
Chariots rattled by like fire—
“What a routh o' lords an' dukes!”
Aye his bonnet aff he whuppit;
Time-o'-day gae to them a'—
Up the mail came—Robin stoppit—
“Here's the grandest chap ava!
Time-o'-day gae to them a'—
Up the mail came—Robin stoppit—
“Here's the grandest chap ava!
“A' his servants ride without there,
Some to wait, an' some to ca';
He's been giein' alms, nae doubt there,
Gars his man the trumpet blaw.”
Some to wait, an' some to ca';
He's been giein' alms, nae doubt there,
Gars his man the trumpet blaw.”
Aye the lords came thick an' thicker,
Knights an' great men round him swarm;
O' their honours to mak sicker
Robin's bonnet's 'neath his arm.
Knights an' great men round him swarm;
O' their honours to mak sicker
Robin's bonnet's 'neath his arm.
Crippled, thirsty, baugh, an' tired,
To the Cross he wan at last;
Stood amazed, an' aft inquired,
“Where's the folk gaun a' sae fast?”
To the Cross he wan at last;
Stood amazed, an' aft inquired,
“Where's the folk gaun a' sae fast?”
For the lady's house he lookit,
Wha enticed his bairn frae him;
Wi' his stick the door he knockit,
Then stood quakin' every limb.
Wha enticed his bairn frae him;
Wi' his stick the door he knockit,
Then stood quakin' every limb.
Sic a picture ne'er was seen in
Edinborough town before,
Robin owre his pike-staff leanin',
At the lady's glancin' door.
Edinborough town before,
Robin owre his pike-staff leanin',
At the lady's glancin' door.
A' his face was din wi' owder;
Short an' deep his breath he drew;
His gray locks owre ilka shoulder,
Waved wi' ilka blast that blew.
Short an' deep his breath he drew;
His gray locks owre ilka shoulder,
Waved wi' ilka blast that blew.
Shoon, wi' buckles bright as may be;
Coat the colour o' the sea;
Wide the cuffs, an' ilka laibie
Fauldit owre aboon his knee.
Coat the colour o' the sea;
Wide the cuffs, an' ilka laibie
Fauldit owre aboon his knee.
When he heard the bolt a-loosin',
Round he turned his wat'ry ee;
Haflins feared, an' half rejoicin',
Mary's face he hoped to see.
Round he turned his wat'ry ee;
Haflins feared, an' half rejoicin',
Mary's face he hoped to see.
'Twas a madam, proud an' airy,
Spiered what made him there to ca'—
“'Twas to see his daughter Mary:”
“Mary wasna there ata'!
Spiered what made him there to ca'—
“'Twas to see his daughter Mary:”
“Mary wasna there ata'!
“Mistress Lang had slyly watched her
Doubtin' sair her 'haviour light,
An' wi' gentle spark had catched her
At the dead hour o' the night.
Doubtin' sair her 'haviour light,
An' wi' gentle spark had catched her
At the dead hour o' the night.
“Straight she turned her aff in anger,
Quite owre ruin's fearfu' brink;
Virtue steels her breast nae langer,
As she brewed she now maun drink.”
Quite owre ruin's fearfu' brink;
Virtue steels her breast nae langer,
As she brewed she now maun drink.”
Robin heaved his staff the doorward,
Looked as he'd attack the place;
Just as he was rushin' forward,
Clash the door came in his face.
Looked as he'd attack the place;
Just as he was rushin' forward,
Clash the door came in his face.
Now a place, his grief to vent in,
Fast he sought, an' in the dust
A' the night he lay lamentin',
Till his heart was like to burst.
Fast he sought, an' in the dust
A' the night he lay lamentin',
Till his heart was like to burst.
Aft he cried, “My only daughter,
How my hopes are marred in thee!
O that I had sooner sought her,
Or had she but staid wi' me!
How my hopes are marred in thee!
O that I had sooner sought her,
Or had she but staid wi' me!
“Should I gang an' never see her,
How could I her mother tell?
Should I gang an' no forgie her,
How will God forgie mysel'?”
How could I her mother tell?
Should I gang an' no forgie her,
How will God forgie mysel'?”
Lang he spiered at shops an' houses,
An' at queans he chanced to meet;
Some fo'k bade him seek the closses—
Some the stairs aneath the street.
An' at queans he chanced to meet;
Some fo'k bade him seek the closses—
Some the stairs aneath the street.
Let nae sufferer, all unwary,
Broken-hearted though he be,
Nor the proud voluptuary
Bend to heaven a hopeless ee.
Broken-hearted though he be,
Nor the proud voluptuary
Bend to heaven a hopeless ee.
Sure as flows the silver fountain;
Sure as poortith meets disdain;
Sure as stable stands the mountain;
Sure as billows heave the main—
Sure as poortith meets disdain;
Sure as stable stands the mountain;
Sure as billows heave the main—
95
There's a God that rules above us—
Rules our actions to his mind;
One will ever—ever love us,
If our hearts are meek an' kind.
Rules our actions to his mind;
One will ever—ever love us,
If our hearts are meek an' kind.
Robin wand'rin' late an' early,
At the dead o' a' the night,
Heard a lassie pleadin' sairly,
In a sad an' waefu' plight.
At the dead o' a' the night,
Heard a lassie pleadin' sairly,
In a sad an' waefu' plight.
“Let me in,” she cried, “till mornin';
Then i' se trouble you nae mair.”
They within, her mis'ry scornin',
Stormed an' threatened unco sair.
Then i' se trouble you nae mair.”
They within, her mis'ry scornin',
Stormed an' threatened unco sair.
“A' your whinin's out o' season;
We hae borne w'ye mony a day;
Had ye listened ought to reason,
Ye had been a lady gay;
We hae borne w'ye mony a day;
Had ye listened ought to reason,
Ye had been a lady gay;
“Might hae in your chariot ridden,
Clad wi' silks o' ev'ry hue,
Had ye done as ye were bidden:—
Get ye gone, or ye shall rue.”
Clad wi' silks o' ev'ry hue,
Had ye done as ye were bidden:—
Get ye gone, or ye shall rue.”
“O, I am a helpless creature,
Let me in, for sair I rue!
Though it shocks my very nature,
What you bid me I will do.”
Let me in, for sair I rue!
Though it shocks my very nature,
What you bid me I will do.”
“Haud!” quo' Robin, hastin' near her,
“Haud, or else ye're lost for aye!
Think o' friends wha hold you dearer,
Think what will your parents say!”
“Haud, or else ye're lost for aye!
Think o' friends wha hold you dearer,
Think what will your parents say!”
Straight she caught his hand an' kissed it,
Sad she looked, but nought could say;
Round his knees her arms she twistit,
Shrieked, an' faintit quite away.
Sad she looked, but nought could say;
Round his knees her arms she twistit,
Shrieked, an' faintit quite away.
Weel she kend his every feature,
Spottit plaid, an' bonnet blue—
Ye hae felt the throes o' nature—
Need I tell the case to you?
Spottit plaid, an' bonnet blue—
Ye hae felt the throes o' nature—
Need I tell the case to you?
'Twas his ain, his bonny Mary,
Here he fand in sic a state,
Sufferin', for ae step unwary,
Near a sad an' shamefu' fate.
Here he fand in sic a state,
Sufferin', for ae step unwary,
Near a sad an' shamefu' fate.
She had loved, an' sair repentit—
She had wept an' wept her fill;
But all proffers had resentit
That could lead her mair to ill.
She had wept an' wept her fill;
But all proffers had resentit
That could lead her mair to ill.
Woman, Nature's bonniest blossom,
Soft desire may beet thine eye,
Yet within thy heavin' bosom
Dwells deep-blushing modestye!
Soft desire may beet thine eye,
Yet within thy heavin' bosom
Dwells deep-blushing modestye!
O let never lover sever
From its stalk this gem of morn,
Else it droops an' dies for ever,
Leavin' bare the festerin' thorn!
From its stalk this gem of morn,
Else it droops an' dies for ever,
Leavin' bare the festerin' thorn!
Woman's maiden love's the dearest,
Sweetest bliss that Heaven can give,
Thine the blame the garland wearest,
If through life it disna live.
Sweetest bliss that Heaven can give,
Thine the blame the garland wearest,
If through life it disna live.
Sweet the rose's early blossom,
Opening to the morning ray;
For one blemish on its bosom,
Would you crush it in the clay?
Opening to the morning ray;
For one blemish on its bosom,
Would you crush it in the clay?
Though the tender scion's woundit
By a reptile's pois'nous twine,
Must the noxious weeds around it
In its ruin all combine?
By a reptile's pois'nous twine,
Must the noxious weeds around it
In its ruin all combine?
Female youth, to guile a stranger,
Doomed too oft to endless pain,
Set the butt of every danger,
Left the mark of cold disdain:—
Doomed too oft to endless pain,
Set the butt of every danger,
Left the mark of cold disdain:—
Should stern justice blot a grievance
Out from Nature's mighty sum,
First of a' may plead forbearance,
Female innocence o' ercome.
Out from Nature's mighty sum,
First of a' may plead forbearance,
Female innocence o' ercome.
Robin showed his dear affection,
Gae his bairn a welcome kiss,
Never made one harsh reflection,
Never said she'd done amiss.
Gae his bairn a welcome kiss,
Never made one harsh reflection,
Never said she'd done amiss.
To her native cottage led her,
Heard her suff'rins by the way;
Short the answer Robin made her,
“A' like lost sheep gang astray!”
Heard her suff'rins by the way;
Short the answer Robin made her,
“A' like lost sheep gang astray!”
Thus, from guilt an' dire destruction,
Robin saved his fallen child;
Mourned alone her base seduction,
Won her soul by manners mild.
Robin saved his fallen child;
Mourned alone her base seduction,
Won her soul by manners mild.
Aft, of Heaven, in accents movin',
Pardon begged for errors past:
Kind regard, an' language lovin',
Marked the parent to the last.
Pardon begged for errors past:
Kind regard, an' language lovin',
Marked the parent to the last.
Hearts replete with love an' duty
Easiest levelled i' the dust;
Guardians over female beauty,
Nice an' precious is your trust.
Easiest levelled i' the dust;
Guardians over female beauty,
Nice an' precious is your trust.
Should stern justice blot ae grievance
Out o' Nature's mighty sum,
First of a' may plead forbearance,
Female innocence o'ercome.
Out o' Nature's mighty sum,
First of a' may plead forbearance,
Female innocence o'ercome.
| The Works of The Ettrick Shepherd | |