LOVELY POLLY STEWART. TUNE — Ye're welcome, Charlie Stewart. Polly Stewart was the daughter of a certain Willie Stewart, on whom Burns wrote some impromptu stanzas. She was reared in comfortable circumstances, a few miles from Burns's residence at Ellisland, and was married to a gentleman of large property. Sad to relate of one for whom Burns promised that worth and truth would give her eternal youth, this poor woman fell aside from the path of honor, and sunk into the most humble circumstances in her old age. It was stated a few. years ago, that she lived as "a poor lavender" (to use a phrase of Barbour's) in Maxwelltown. She is believed to have subsequently died in France. O LOVELY Polly Stewart ! O charming Polly Stewart! There's not a flower that blooms in May The flower, it blaws, it fades, and fa's, But worth and truth eternal youth May he whose arms shall fauld thy charms, Possess a leal and true heart; To him be given to ken the heaven He grasps in Polly Stewart. O lovely Polly Stewart! O charming Polly Stewart ! There's ne'er a flower that blooms in May That's half so sweet as thou art. COULD AUGHT OF SONG.1 TUNE-At Setting Day. COULD aught of song declare my pains, They who but feign a wounded heart 1 The air to which Burns wrote this song, was the production of Dr. Samuel Howard, organist of St. Clement's Danes in the middle of the last century. It was composed for Ramsay's song, At Setting Day and Rising Morn, and in this connection attained some popularity. But what avails the pride of art, When wastes the soul with anguish? Then let the sudden bursting sigh The heart-felt pang discover; And in the keen, yet tender eye, O read the imploring lover! For well I know thy gentle mind Disdains art's gay disguising, Beyond what fancy e'er refined, The voice of nature prizing. WAE IS MY HEART. TUNE-Wae is my Heart. WAE is my heart, and the tear's in my e'e; Lang, lang, joy's been a stranger to me; Forsaken and friendless, my burden I bear, And the sweet voice o' pity ne'er sounds in my ear. Love, thou hast pleasures, and deep hae I loved, Love, thou hast sorrows, and sair hae I proved ; But this bruised heart that now bleeds in my breast, I can feel its throbbings will soon be at rest. Oh, if I were happy, where happy I hae been, Down by yon stream, and yon bonny castlegreen! For there he is wand'ring, and musing on me, Wha wad soon dry the tear frae Phillis's e'e. HERE'S TO THY HEALTH, MY BONNY LASS. TUNE-Laggan Burn. HERE'S to thy health, my bonny lass, I'll come nae mair to thy bower-door, Thou'rt aye sae free informing me I'll be as free informing thee Nae time hae I to tarry. I ken thy friends try ilka means, I ken they scorn my low estate, Sma' siller will relieve me. I count my health my greatest wealth, I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want, But far-off fowls hae feathers fair, Though they seem fair, still have a care, worse But at twal at night, when the moon shines bright, My dear, I'll come and see thee; For the man that lo'es his mistress weel, Nae travel makes him weary. |