Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/327
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THE SONGS OF BURNS.
261
Thou art a queen, Fair Lesley,Thy subjects we, before thee:Thou art divine, Fair Lesley,The hearts o' men adore thee.
The Deil he could na scaith thee,Or aught that wad belang thee;He'd look into thy bonie face,And say, 'I canna wrang thee.'
The Powers aboon will tent thee;Misfortune sha'na steer thee;Thou'rt like themselves sae lovely,That ill they'll ne'er let near thee.
Return again, Fair Lesley,Return to Caledonie!That we may brag, we hae a lassThere's nane again sae bonie.
AMANG THE TREES.
TUNE—'THE KING OF FRANCE, HE RADE A RACE.'
Amang the trees where humming beesAt buds and flowers were hinging, OAuld Caledon drew out her drone,And to her pipe was singing; O'Twas Pibroch, Sang, Strathspey, or Reels,She dirl❜d them aff fu' clearly, OWhen there cam a yell o' foreign squeels,That dang her tapsalteerie, O—
Their capon craws and queer ha ha's,They made our lugs grow eerie; OThe hungry bike did scrape and pikeTill we were wae and weary: O—But a royal ghaist wha ance was cas'dA prisoner aughteen year awa,He fir'd a fiddler in the northThat dang them tapsalteerie, O.
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ON SENSIBILITY.
TO MY DEAR AND MUCH HONOURED FRIEND, MRS. DUNLOP, OF DUNLOP.
AIR—'SENSIBILITY.'
Sensibility, how charming,Thou, my friend, canst truly tell;But distress, with horrors arming,Thou hast also known too well!
Fairest flower, behold the lily,Blooming in the sunny ray:Let the blast sweep o'er the valley,See it prostrate on the clay.
Hear the wood-lark charm the forest,Telling o'er his little joys;Hapless bird! a prey the surestTo each pirate of the skies.
Dearly bought the hidden treasureFiner feelings can bestow;Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasureThrill the deepest notes of woe.
SWEETEST MAY.
Sweetest May, let love inspire thee;Take a heart which he designs thee;As thy constant slave regard it;For its faith and truth reward it.
Proof o' shot to birth or money,Not the wealthy, but the bonie;Not high-born, but noble-minded,In love's silken band can bind it!