THE LOVESOME DAMSEL.
SONG XXXVII.
1
The deepest snow-wreaths drop away with the sun,
The coldest ice maun thowe when the summer is begun;
But love devout, or warmth of heart, or pray'r, or constancie,
Cannot win a blythe blink of a fair damsel's e'e.
2
Her charming looks wad wile off the bird from the breer,
So eloquent her tongue, 'tis delight to be near;
Though light leaps each heart in her presence for to be,
Yet ne'er a lovesome blink can they win from her e'e.
3
Ilk auld bodie calls her, the flow'r of the queans,
And the summer dew has faun on the last of her teens;
She is straight, tall and bonnie, as the new-budded tree,
And lightsome as spring to the whole countrie.
4
She has bought a snowy hat, with a feather in the crown,
With clasps of beaten gold to her waist and her shoon;
With pearly spraings and silver nets to bind aboon her bree,
And the pride has grown richer that dwells in her e'e.
5
Though her hose were of silk, and with silver was she shod,
Though her forehead were pearl, with tresses of gowd;
Though her mind were a mine of new-minted monie,
She's poor with them all when pride's in her e'e.
6
The kindly bird builds in the lowly bow'r tree,
In the lofty grove top love's the foolish bird to be;
And the hawk takes the high one, and lets the low one flee,
And so goes the damsel with pride in her e'e.
7
O kind were the kisses once that dwelt on her mou',
She wad fa' in my arms like a new drop of dew;
But her love it wore away, like the leaf frae the tree,
Yet she menses even pride with her bonnie black e'e.
