Volume Iii Part 29 (1/2)

BONNIE PEGGY.[46]

AIR--_”Bonnie la.s.sie, O.”_

Oh, we aft hae met at e'en, bonnie Peggy, O!

On the banks of Cart sae green, bonnie Peggy, O!

Where the waters smoothly rin, Far aneath the roarin' linn, Far frae busy strife and din, bonnie Peggy, O!

When the lately crimson west, bonnie Peggy, O!

In her darker robe was dress'd, bonnie Peggy, O!

And a sky of azure blue, Deck'd with stars of golden hue, Rose majestic to the view, bonnie Peggy, O!

When the sound of flute or horn, bonnie Peggy, O!

On the gale of ev'ning borne, bonnie Peggy, O!

We have heard in echoes die, While the wave that rippled by, Sung a soft and sweet reply, bonnie Peggy, O!

Then how happy would we rove, bonnie Peggy, O!

Whilst thou, blus.h.i.+ng, own'd thy love, bonnie Peggy, O!

Whilst thy quickly throbbing breast To my beating heart I press'd, Ne'er was mortal half so blest, bonnie Peggy, O!

Now, alas! these scenes are o'er, bonnie Peggy, O!

Now, alas! we meet no more, bonnie Peggy, O!

Oh! never again, I ween, Will we meet at summer e'en On the banks of Cart sae green, bonnie Peggy, O!

Yet had'st thou been true to me, bonnie Peggy, O!

As I still hae been to thee, bonnie Peggy, O!

Then with bosom, oh, how light, Had I hail'd the coming night, And yon evening star so bright, bonnie Peggy, O!

[46] This song is much in the strain of the popular song of ”Kelvin Grove,” which, it may here be remarked, has often been erroneously ascribed to Sim. It was contributed to the ”Harp of Renfrews.h.i.+re,” then under his editorial care, by his townsman, cla.s.s-fellow, and professional brother, Mr Thomas Lyle, surgeon, Glasgow, and was published in that work (p. 144) by Mr John Murdoch, the successor of Sim in the editors.h.i.+p, with a number of alterations by that gentleman. Of these alterations Mr Lyle complained to Mr Sim, and received a letter from him attributing them to Mr Murdoch. On the completion of the work, Sim was mentioned in the index as the author of the song--by the poet Motherwell, the third and last editor, who, not unnaturally, a.s.signed to the original editor those songs which appeared anonymously in the earlier portion of the volume. The song being afterwards published with music by Mr Purdie, musicseller in Edinburgh, Mr Lyle was induced to adopt measures for establis.h.i.+ng his t.i.tle to the authors.h.i.+p. In the absence of the original MS., the claim was sufficiently made out by the production of Mr Sim's letter on the subject of the alterations. (See Memoir of Mr Lyle, _postea_.)

NOW, MARY, NOW THE STRUGGLE 'S O'ER.[47]

_Gaelic Air._

Now, Mary, now the struggle 's o'er-- The war of pride and love; And, Mary, now we meet no more, Unless we meet above.

Too well thou know'st how much I loved!

Thou knew'st my hopes how fair!

But all these hopes are blighted now, They point but to despair.

Thus doom'd to ceaseless, hopeless love, I haste to India's sh.o.r.e; For here how can I longer stay, And call thee mine no more?