144 LASSIE WI' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS. [1794.

Wilt thou wi' me tent the flocks,

Wilt thou be my dearie O?

Now Nature cleeds the flowery lea, clothes
And a' is young and sweet like thee:
Oh, wilt thou share its joys wi' me,
And say thou'lt be my dearie O?

And when the welcome simmer-shower
Has cheered ilk drooping little flower,
We'll to the breathing woodbine-bower
At sultry noon, my dearie O.

When Cynthia lights, wi' silver ray,
The weary shearer's 'hameward way,
Through yellow waving fields we'll stray,
And talk o' love, my dearie O.

And when the howling wintry blast
Disturbs my lassie's midnight rest,
Enclasped to my faithful breast,
I'll comfort thee, my dearie O.

Nov., 1794.

ET. 36.] FAREWELL, THOU STREAM.

145

FAREWELL, THOU STREAM THAT WINDING FLOWS.

It will be observed that this is a new and improved version of the song sent in April of the preceding year, beginning, The last Time I came o'er the Moor. The change most remarkable is the substitution of Eliza for Maria. The alienation of Mrs. Riddel, and Burns's resentment against her, must have rendered the latter name no longer tolerable to him. One only can wonder that, with his new and painful associations regarding that lady, he could endure the song itself, or propose laying it before the world.

FAREWELL, thou stream that winding flows
Around Eliza's dwelling!

O mem'ry! spare the cruel throes
Within my bosom swelling:
Condemned to drag a hopeless chain,

And yet in secret languish,

To feel a fire in every vein,

Nor dare disclose my anguish.

Love's veriest wretch, unseen, unknown,
I fain my griefs would cover;
The bursting sigh, th' unweeting groan,
Betray the hapless lover.

146

PHILLY AND WILLY.

I know thou doom'st me to despair,

Nor wilt, nor canst relieve me;
But, oh! Eliza, hear one prayer
For pity's sake forgive me!

The music of thy voice I heard,
Nor wist, while it enslaved me;
I saw thine eyes, yet nothing feared,
Till fears no more had saved me.
Th' unwary sailor thus aghast,
The wheeling torrent viewing,
'Mid circling horrors sinks at last
In overwhelming ruin.

PHILLY AND WILLY.

TUNE- The Sow's Tail.

Nov., 1794.

[1794.

HE.

O PHILLY, happy be that day,
When roving through the gathered hay,

My youthfu' heart was stown away,

And by thy charms, my Philly.

T. 36.]

PHILLY AND WILLY.

147

SHE.

O Willy, aye I bless the grove

Where first I owned my maiden love,
Whilst thou didst pledge the powers above

To be my ain dear Willy.

HE.

As songsters of the early year
Are ilka day mair sweet to hear,
So ilka day to me mair dear
And charming is my Philly.

SHE.

As on the brier the budding rose
Still richer breathes and fairer blows,

So in my tender bosom grows

The love I bear my Willy.

HE.

The milder sun and bluer sky,

That crown my harvest cares wi' joy,

Were ne'er sae welcome to my eye

As is a sight o' Philly.

SHE.

The little swallow's wanton wing,
Though wafting o'er the flowery spring,
Did ne'er to me sic tidings bring,

As meeting o' my Willy.

148

PHILLY AND WILLY.

[1794.

HE.

The bee that through the sunny hour
Sips nectar in the opening flower,
Compared wi' my delight is poor,
Upon the lips o' Philly.

SHE.

The woodbine in the dewy weet,
When evening shades in silence meet,
Is nocht sae fragrant or sae sweet

As is a kiss o' Willy.

HE.

Let fortune's wheel at random rin,
And fools may tyne, and knaves may win;
My thoughts are a' bound up in ane,
And that's my ain dear Philly.

SHE.

What's a' the joys that gowd can gie?

I care nae wealth a single flie;
The lad I love's the lad for me,

And that's my ain dear Willy.

Nov. 19, 1794.

lose