Volume I Part 9 (1/2)

Nae langer she wept, her tears were a' spent; Despair it was come, and she thought it content; She thought it content, but her cheek was grown pale, And she droop'd like a snow-drop broke down by the hail.

Her father was sad, and her mother was wae, But silent and thoughtfu' was auld Robin Gray; He wander'd his lane, and his face was as lean As the side of a brae where the torrents have been.

He gaed to his bed, but nae physic would take, And often he said, ”It is best, for her sake!”

While Jeanie supported his head as he lay, The tears trickled down upon auld Robin Gray.

”Oh, greet nae mair, Jeanie!” said he, wi' a groan; ”I 'm nae worth your sorrow--the truth maun be known; Send round for your neighbours--my hour it draws near, And I 've that to tell that it 's fit a' should hear.

”I 've wrang'd her,” he said, ”but I kent it o'er late; I 've wrang'd her, and sorrow is speeding my date; But a 's for the best, since my death will soon free A faithfu' young heart, that was ill match'd wi' me.

”I lo'ed and I courted her mony a day, The auld folks were for me, but still she said nay; I kentna o' Jamie, nor yet o' her vow;-- In mercy forgi'e me, 'twas I stole the cow!

”I cared not for crummie, I thought but o' thee; I thought it was crummie stood 'twixt you and me; While she fed your parents, oh! did you not say, You never would marry wi' auld Robin Gray?

”But sickness at hame, and want at the door-- You gi'ed me your hand, while your heart it was sore; I saw it was sore, why took I her hand?

Oh, that was a deed to my shame o'er the land!

”How truth, soon or late, comes to open daylight!

For Jamie cam' back, and your cheek it grew white; White, white grew your cheek, but aye true unto me.

Oh, Jeanie, I 'm thankfu'--I 'm thankfu' to dee!

”Is Jamie come here yet?” and Jamie he saw; ”I 've injured you sair, lad, so I leave you my a'; Be kind to my Jeanie, and soon may it be!

Waste no time, my dauties, in mournin' for me.”

They kiss'd his cauld hands, and a smile o'er his face Seem'd hopefu' of being accepted by grace; ”Oh, doubtna,” said Jamie, ”forgi'en he will be, Wha wadna be tempted, my love, to win thee?”

The first days were dowie, while time slipt awa'; But saddest and sairest to Jeanie of a'

Was thinking she couldna be honest and right, Wi' tears in her e'e, while her heart was sae light.

But nae guile had she, and her sorrow away, The wife of her Jamie, the tear couldna stay; A bonnie wee bairn--the auld folks by the fire-- Oh, now she has a' that her heart can desire!

In an earlier continuation of the original ballad, there are some good stanzas, which, however, the author had thought proper to expunge from the piece in its altered and extended form. One verse, descriptive of Robin Gray's feelings, on observing the concealed and withering grief of his spouse, is beautiful for its simplicity:--

”Nae questions he spier'd her concerning her health, He look'd at her often, but aye 'twas by stealth; When his heart it grew grit, and, sighin', he feign'd To gang to the door to see if it rain'd.”

SONG.

Why tarries my love?

Ah! where does he rove?

My love is long absent from me.