III.
A weel-stocked mailen--himsel" for the laird-- And marriage aff-hand, were his proffers: I never loot on that I kenn"d it, or car"d, But thought I may hae waur offers, waur offers, But thought I might hae waur offers.
IV.
But what wad ye think? In a fortnight or less-- The deil tak his taste to gae near her!
He up the Gateslack to my black cousin Bess, Guess ye how, the jad! I could bear her, could bear her, Guess ye how, the jad! I could bear her.
V.
But a" the niest week as I fretted wi" care, I gaed to the tryste o" Dalgarnock, And wha but my fine fickle lover was there!
I glowr"d as I"d seen a warlock, a warlock, I glowr"d as I"d seen a warlock.
VI.
But owre my left shouther I gae him a blink, Lest neebors might say I was saucy; My wooer he caper"d as he"d been in drink, And vow"d I was his dear la.s.sie, dear la.s.sie, And vow"d I was his dear la.s.sie.
VII.
I spier"d for my cousin fu" couthy and sweet, Gin she had recovered her hearin", And how my auld shoon suited her shauchled feet, But, heavens! how he fell a swearin", a swearin", But, heavens! how he fell a swearin".
VIII.
He begged, for Gudesake, I wad be his wife, Or else I wad kill him wi" sorrow; So, e"en to preserve the poor body in life, I think I maun wed him to-morrow, to-morrow, I think I maun wed him to morrow.
CCLX.
CHLORIS.
Tune--"_Caledonian Hunt"s Delight._"
["I am at present," says Burns to Thomson, when he communicated these verses, "quite occupied with the charming sensations of the toothache, so have not a word to spare--such is the peculiarity of the rhythm of this air, that I find it impossible to make another stanza to suit it." This is the last of his strains in honour of Chloris.]
I.
Why, why tell thy lover, Bliss he never must enjoy: Why, why undeceive him, And give all his hopes the lie?
II.
O why, while fancy raptured, slumbers, Chloris, Chloris all the theme, Why, why wouldst thou, cruel, Wake thy lover from his dream?
CCLXI.
THE HIGHLAND WIDOW"S LAMENT.
[This song is said to be Burns"s version of a Gaelic lament for the ruin which followed the rebellion of the year 1745: he sent it to the Museum.]
I.
Oh! I am come to the low countrie, Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Without a penny in my purse, To buy a meal to me.
II.
It was na sae in the Highland hills, Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Nae woman in the country wide Sae happy was as me.
III.
For then I had a score o" kye, Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Feeding on yon hills so high, And giving milk to me.
IV.
And there I had three score o" yowes, Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Skipping on yon bonnie knowes, And casting woo" to me.
V.
I was the happiest of a" the clan, Sair, sair, may I repine; For Donald was the brawest lad, And Donald he was mine.
VI.
Till Charlie Stewart cam" at last, Sae far to set us free; My Donald"s arm was wanted then, For Scotland and for me.
VII.
Their waefu" fate what need I tell, Right to the wrang did yield: My Donald and his country fell Upon Culloden"s field.
VIII.
Oh! I am come to the low countrie, Och-on, och-on, och-rie!
Nae woman in the world wide Sae wretched now as me.