Volume Iv Part 23 (1/2)
Like two fair roses on a tree, we flourish'd an' we grew, An' as we grew, sweet love grew too, an' strong 'tween me an' you; How aft ye 'd twine your gentle arms in love about my neck, An' breathe young vows that after-years o' sorrow has na brak!
We 'd raise our lisping voices in auld Coila's melting lays, An' sing that tearfu' tale about Doon's bonnie banks and braes; But thoughtna' we o' banks and braes, except those at our feet, Like yon wee birds we sang our sang, yet ken'd no that 'twas sweet.
Oh! is na this a joyous day, a' Nature's breathing forth, In gladness an' in loveliness owre a' the wide, wide earth?
The linties they are lilting love, on ilka bush an' tree, Oh! may such joy be ever felt, my Bess, by thee and me!
MENIE HAY.
AIR--_”Heigh-ho! for Somebody.”_
A wee bird sits upon a spray, And aye it sings o' Menie Hay, The burthen o' its cheery lay Is ”Come away, dear Menie Hay!
Sweet art thou, O Menie Hay!
Fair I trow, O Menie Hay!
There 's not a bonnie flower in May Shows a bloom wi' Menie Hay.”
A light in yonder window 's seen, And wi' it seen is Menie Hay; Wha gazes on the dewy green, Where sits the bird upon the spray?
”Sweet art thou, O Menie Hay!
Fair I trow, O Menie Hay!
At sic a time, in sic a way, What seek ye there, O Menie Hay?”
”What seek ye there, my daughter dear?
What seek ye there, O Menie Hay?”
”Dear mother, but the stars sae clear Around the bonnie Milky Way.”
”Sweet are thou, O Menie Hay!
Slee I trow, O Menie Hay!
Ye something see ye daurna say, Paukie, winsome Menie Hay!”
The window 's shut, the light is gane, And wi' it gane is Menie Hay; But wha is seen upon the green, Kissing sweetly Menie Hay?
”Sweet art thou, O Menie Hay!
Slee I trow, O Menie Hay!
For ane sae young ye ken the way, And far from blate, O Menie Hay!”
”Gae scour the country, hill and dale; Oh! waes me, where is Menie Hay?
Search ilka nook, in town or vale, For my daughter, Menie Hay.”
”Sweet art thou, O Menie Hay!