Volume Ii Part 32 (1/2)
On the strings o' my heart she bewitchingly plays, An' each languis.h.i.+ng note is a sigh frae my soul!
LOUISA IN LOCHABER.
Can ought be constant as the sun, That makes the world sae cheerie?
Yes, a' the powers can witness be, The love I bear my dearie.
But what can make the hours seem lang, An' rin sae wondrous dreary?
What but the s.p.a.ce that lies between Me an' my only dearie.
Then fare ye weel, wha saw me aft, Sae blythe, baith late and early; An' fareweel scenes o' former joys, That cherish life sae rarely; Baith love an' beauty bid me flee, Nor linger lang an' eerie, But haste, an' in my arms enfauld, My only pride an' dearie.
I 'll hail Lochaber's valleys green, Where many a rill meanders; I 'll hail wi' joy, its birken bowers, For there Louisa wanders.
There will I clasp her to my breast, An' tent her smile fu' cheerie; An' thus, without a wish or want, Live happy wi' my dearie.
THE HAZELWOOD WITCH.
For mony lang year I hae heard frae my grannie Of brownies an' bogles by yon castle wa', Of auld wither'd hags that were never thought cannie, An' fairies that danced till they heard the c.o.c.k caw.
I leugh at her tales; an' last owk, i' the gloamin', I daunder'd, alane, down the hazelwood green; Alas! I was reckless, and rue sair my roamin', For I met a young witch, wi' twa bonnie black e'en.
I thought o' the starns in a frosty night glancing, Whan a' the lift round them is cloudless an' blue; I looked again, an' my heart fell a-dancing, When I wad hae spoken, she glamour'd my mou'.
O wae to her cantrips! for dumpish I wander, At kirk or at market there 's nought to be seen; For she dances afore me wherever I daunder, The hazelwood witch wi' the bonnie black e'en.
FAREWELL TO AYRs.h.i.+RE.[111]
Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure, Scenes that former thoughts renew; Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure, Now a sad and last adieu!
Bonny Doon, sae sweet at gloamin', Fare thee weel before I gang; Bonny Doon, whare, early roamin', First I weaved the rustic sang.
Bowers, adieu! where, love decoying, First enthrall'd this heart o' mine; There the saftest sweets enjoying, Sweets that memory ne'er shall tine.
Friends sae near my bosom ever, Ye hae render'd moments dear; But, alas! when forced to sever, Then the stroke, O how severe!
Friends, that parting tear reserve it, Though 'tis doubly dear to me; Could I think I did deserve it, How much happier would I be.
Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure, Scenes that former thoughts renew; Scenes of woe and scenes of pleasure, Now a sad and last adieu!
[111] This is another song of Richard Gall which has been a.s.signed to Burns; it has even been included in Dr Currie's edition of his works. It was communicated anonymously by Gall to the publisher of the ”Scots Musical Museum,” and first appeared in that work. The original MS. of the song was in the possession of Mr Stark, the author of a memoir of Gall in the ”Biographia Scotica.”
GEORGE SCOTT.
George Scott was the son of a small landowner in Roxburghs.h.i.+re. He was born at Dingleton, near Melrose, in 1777; and after attending the parish-schools of Melrose and Galas.h.i.+els, became a student in the University of Edinburgh. On completing a curriculum of cla.s.sical study, he was in his twenty-second year appointed parochial schoolmaster of Livingstone, West Lothian; and in six years afterwards was preferred to the parish-school of Lilliesleaf, in his native county. He was an accomplished scholar, and had the honour of educating many individuals who afterwards attained distinction. With Sir Walter Scott, who appreciated his scholars.h.i.+p, he maintained a friendly correspondence. In 1820, he published a small volume of poems, ent.i.tled, ”Heath Flowers; or, Mountain Melodies,” which exhibits considerable poetical talent.
Having discharged the duties of an instructor of youth for half a century, he retired from his public avocations in November 1850. He survived till the 23d of February 1853, having attained his seventy-sixth year.