Volume Ii Part 16 (2/2)

AIR--_”Lord Moira's Welcome to Scotland.”_

Loudoun's bonnie woods and braes, I maun lea' them a', la.s.sie; Wha can thole when Britain's faes Wald gi'e Britons law, la.s.sie?

Wha would shun the field of danger?

Wha frae fame wad live a stranger?

Now when Freedom bids avenge her, Wha would shun her ca', la.s.sie?

Loudoun's bonnie woods and braes Hae seen our happy bridal days, And gentle Hope shall soothe thy waes, When I am far awa', la.s.sie.

”Hark! the swelling bugle sings, Yielding joy to thee, laddie, But the dolefu' bugle brings Waefu' thoughts to me, laddie.

Lanely I may climb the mountain, Lanely stray beside the fountain, Still the weary moments countin', Far frae love, and thee, laddie.

O'er the gory fields of war, When Vengeance drives his crimson car, Thou 'lt maybe fa', frae me afar, And nane to close thy e'e, laddie.”

O! resume thy wonted smile!

O! suppress thy fears, la.s.sie!

Glorious honour crowns the toil That the soldier shares, la.s.sie; Heaven will s.h.i.+eld thy faithful lover, Till the vengeful strife is over, Then we 'll meet nae mair to sever, Till the day we die, la.s.sie; 'Midst our bonnie woods and braes, We 'll spend our peaceful, happy days, As blithe 's yon lightsome lamb that plays On Loudoun's flowery lea, la.s.sie.

[78] Tannahill wrote this song in honour of the Earl of Moira, afterwards Marquis of Hastings, and the Countess of Loudoun, to whom his Lords.h.i.+p had been shortly espoused, when he was called abroad in the service of his country.

THE La.s.s O' ARRANTEENIE.[79]

Far lone amang the Highland hills, 'Midst Nature's wildest grandeur, By rocky dens, and woody glens, With weary steps I wander.

The langsome way, the darksome day, The mountain mist sae rainy, Are nought to me when gaun to thee, Sweet la.s.s o' Arranteenie.

Yon mossy rosebud down the howe, Just op'ning fresh and bonny, Blinks sweetly 'neath the hazel bough, And 's scarcely seen by ony; Sae, sweet amidst her native hills, Obscurely blooms my Jeanie, Mair fair and gay than rosy May, The flower o' Arranteenie.

Now, from the mountain's lofty brow, I view the distant ocean, There Av'rice guides the bounding prow, Ambition courts promotion:-- Let Fortune pour her golden store, Her laurell'd favours many; Give me but this, my soul's first wish, The la.s.s o' Arranteenie.

[79] This song was written on a young lady, whom a friend of the author met at Ardentinny, a retired spot on the margin of Loch Long.

YON BURN SIDE.[80]

AIR--_”The Brier-bush.”_

We 'll meet beside the dusky glen, on yon burn side, Where the bushes form a cosie den, on yon burn side; Though the broomy knowes be green, And there we may be seen, Yet we 'll meet--we 'll meet at e'en down by yon burn side.

I 'll lead you to the birken bower, on yon burn side, Sae sweetly wove wi' woodbine flower, on yon burn side; There the busy prying eye, Ne'er disturbs the lovers' joy, While in ither's arms they lie, down by yon burn side, Awa', ye rude, unfeeling crew, frae yon burn side, Those fairy scenes are no for you, by yon burn side; There fancy smoothes her theme, By the sweetly murm'ring stream, And the rock-lodged echoes skim, down by yon burn side.

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