ET. 36.]

MY CHLORIS, MARK.

141

The lav'rock shuns the palace gay,

And o'er the cottage sings:

For nature smiles as sweet, I ween,
To shepherds as to kings.

Let minstrels sweep the skilfu' string
In lordly lighted ha':

The shepherd stops his simple reed,
Blithe, in the birken shaw.

The princely revel may survey
Our rustic dance wi' scorn;

birchen wood

But are their hearts as light as ours
Beneath the milk-white thorn?

The shepherd, in the flowery glen,
In shepherd's phrase will woo:
The courtier tells a finer tale,
But is his heart as true?

These wild-wood flowers I've pu'd, to deck
That spotless breast o' thine:

The courtier's gems may witness love –
But 'tis na love like mine.

IT WAS THE CHARMING MONTH OF MAY.

TUNE- Dainty Davie.

Despairing of my own powers to give you variety enough in English songs, I have been turning over old collections, to pick out songs of which the measure is something similar to what I want; and, with a little alteration, so as to suit the rhythm of the air exactly, to give you them for your work. Where the songs have hitherto been but little noticed, nor have ever been set to music, I think the shift a fair one. A song which, under the same first verse, you will find in Ramsay's Tea-table Miscellany, I have cut down for an English dress to your Dainty Davie, as follows:" Burns to Mr. Thomson, Nov., 1794.

Ir was the charming month of May,
When all the flowers were fresh and gay;
One morning, by the break of day,
The youthful, charming Chloe,
From peaceful slumber she arose,
Girt on her mantle and her hose,
And o'er the flowery mead she goes,
The youthful, charming Chloe.

ET. 36.] LASSIE WI' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS. 143

CHORUS.

Lovely was she by the dawn,
Youthful Chloe, charming Chloe,
Tripping o'er the pearly lawn,
The youthful, charming Chloe.

The feathered people, you might see
Perched all around on every tree;
In notes of sweetest melody

They hail the charming Chloe;
Till, painting gay the eastern skies,
The glorious sun began to rise,
Outrivalled by the radiant eyes
Of youthful, charming Chloe.1

LASSIE WI' THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS.

TUNE Rothemurchie's Rant.

CHORUS.

LASSIE Wi' the lint-white locks,

Bonny lassie, artless lassie,

flaxen

1 "You may think meanly of this, but take a look at the bombast original, and you will be surprised that I have made so much of it." - Burns.

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.

AT. 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.