THE EWE-BUGHTS. From the "Tea-Table Miscellany," 1724. WILL ye gae to the ewe-bughts, Marion, Oh, Marion's a bonnie lass, And the blythe blink's in her ee; There's gowd in your garters, Marion, At e'en when I come hame. There's braw lads in Earnslaw, Marion, I've nine milk-ewes, my Marion, And ye'se get a green sey apron, I'm young and stout, my Marion; Sae put on your pearlins, Marion, And kirtle o' cramasie; And as sune as my chin has nae hair on, I will come west and see ye. This song is signed by Allan Ramsay with a Q., signifying that it was an old song with additions and amendments by himself. The air is old and very beautiful. "Your remarks on the 'Ewe-Bughts' are just," says Burns in a letter to Thomson; "still it has obtained a place among our more classical Scottish songs; and what with many beauties in its composition, and more prejudices in its favour, you will not find it easy to supplant it." MAXWELTON BANKS. MAXWELTON banks are bonnie, She's backit like the peacock, "These two verses," as we are informed by Mr. Robert Chambers, " were written by a Mr. Douglas of Finland, upon Anne, one of the four daughters of Sir Robert Laurie, first baronet of Maxwelton, by his second wife, who was a daughter of Riddell of Minto. As Sir Robert was created a baronet in the year 1685, it is probable that the verses were composed about the end of the seventeenth or the beginning of the eighteenth century. It is painful to record, that, notwithstanding the ardent and chivalrous affection displayed by Mr. Douglas in his poem, he did not obtain the heroine for a wife: she was married to Mr. Ferguson of Craigdarroch." The first four lines of the second stanza are taken from the old and indecent ballad of "John Anderson my Jo," a fact which Mr. Chambers has not mentioned. The ballad of "John Anderson," as it was sung before it was rendered decent by Robert Burns, appeared in a very scarce volume of English songs, with the music, entitled "The Convivial Songster," published in 1782. ANNIE LAURIE. MAXWELTON braes are bonnie, And it's there that Annie Laurie Gied me her promise true, Her brow is like the snaw-drift, That e'er the sun shone on; Like dew on the gowan lying, Her voice is low and sweet, And she's all the world to me; And for bonnie Annie Laurie THE BUSH ABOON TRAQUAIR. ROBERT CRAWFORD. From the "Tea-Table Miscellany," 1724. Traquair is on the bank of the water or river of Quair, in Peebleshire. HEAR me, ye nymphs and ev'ry swain, My vows and sighs, like silent air, That day she smiled, and made me glad, I thought myself the luckiest lad, I tried to soothe my am'rous flame Yet now she scornful flies the plain, Ye rural pow'rs, who hear my strains, DOUN THE BURN, DAVIE. WHEN trees did bud and fields were green, And love laugh'd in her ee, Blythe Davie's blinks her heart did move Now Davie did each lad surpass Her cheeks were rosie, red and white; Her een were bonnie blue; Her looks were like the morning bright, As doun the burn they took their way An' through the flowery dale, His cheek to hers he aft did lay, An' love was aye the tale. With, "Mary, when shall we return, Sic pleasures to renew?" Quoth Mary, "Love, I like the burn, This song first appeared in Ramsay's "Tea-Table Miscellany." The last stanza was added by Burns, who was informed by the tradition of his neighbourhood, that the air was the composition of one David Maigh, keeper of the bloodhounds to the Laird of Riddell in Roxburghshire. ONE DAY I HEARD MARY SAY. ROBERT CRAWFORD. From the "Tea-Table Miscellany." ONE day I heard Mary say, How shall I leave thee? Say, lovely Adonis, say, has Mary deceived thee? Did e'er her young heart betray, love, that has grieved thee? My constant mind ne'er shall stray; thou may believe me : I'll love thee, lad, night and day, and never leave thee! Adonis, my charming youth, what can relieve thee? But leave thee, leave thee, lad, how shall I leave thee? "One day I heard Mary say' is a fine song," says Burns to Thomson; "but for consistency's sake, alter the name of Adonis. Were there ever such banns published as a purpose of marriage between Adonis and Mary ?" |