Then come, thou fairest of the fair, No love but thine my heart shall know. SLEEP'ST THOU, OR WAK'ST THOU? SLEEP'ST thou, or wak'st thou, fairest creature ? Waters wi' the tears o' joy: Now thro' the leafy woods, And by the reeking floods, Wild Nature's tenants, freely, gladly stray: The lintwhite in his bower Chants o'er the breathing flower, The lav'rock to the sky Ascends wi' sangs o' joy, While the sun and thou arise to bless the day. Phoebus, gilding the brow o' morning, Banishes ilk darksome shade, Nature gladd'ning and adorning; Sleep'st thou, or wak'st thou ? With starless gloom o'ercast my sullen sky; But when in beauty's light 'Tis then I wake to life, to light, and joy. 207 STAY, MY CHARMER. TUNE-" An gille dubh ciar-dhubh." STAY, my charmer, can you leave me? Cruel, cruel to deceive me! Well you know how much you grieve me ; Cruel charmer, can you go' ? Cruel charmer, can you go ? By my love, so ill requited, JOCKEY'S TA'EN THE PARTING KISS. JOCKEY's ta'en the parting kiss, Nought but griefs with me remain. Gane is the Day. When the shades of evening creep Sweetly blithe his waukening be! 209 GANE IS THE DAY. TUNE-"Gudewife, count the lawin." ["The chorus of this song is old."-Burns.] GANE is the day, an' mirk's the night, Then, gudewife, count the lawin, There's wealth an' ease for gentlemen, For ilka man that's drunk's a lord. My coggie is a haly pool, That heals the wounds o' care an' dool; An' pleasure is a wanton trout, An ye drink but deep ye 'll find him out. AS I WAS A-WANDERING. TUNE-"Rinn meudial mo mhealladh." [This is an old Highland air, and the title means "My love did deceive me." There is much feeling expressed in this song.] As I was a-wand'ring ae midsimmer e'enin', game; Amang them I spied my faithless fause lover, Which bled a' the wounds o' my dolour again. Weel, since he has left me, my pleasure gae wi' him; I may be distress'd, but I winna complain; I flatter my fancy I may get anither, My heart it shall never be broken for ane. I couldna get sleeping till dawin' for greetin', |