Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/340

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THE SONGS OF BURNS.

THE CHEVALIER'S LAMENT.

TUNE—'CAPTAIN O'KEAN.'

The small birds rejoice in the green leaves returning,The murmuring streamlet winds clear thro' the vale;The hawthorn trees blow in the dews of the morning,And wild scatter'd cowslips bedeck the green dale:
But what can give pleasure, or what can seem fair,While the lingering moments are number'd by care?No flowers gaily springing, nor birds sweetly singing,Can soothe the sad bosom of joyless despair.
The deed that I dar'd could it merit their malice,A King or a Father to place on his throne?His right are these hills, and his right are these valleys,Where the wild beasts find shelter, but I can find none.
But 'tis not my sufferings thus wretched, forlorn,My brave gallant friends, 'tis your ruin I mourn:Your deeds prov'd so loyal in hot bloody trial,Alas! can I make you no sweeter return?

THE BELLES OF MAUCHLINE.

TUNE—'BONNIE DUNDEE.'

In Mauchline there dwells six proper young Belles,The pride of the place and its neighbourhood a',Their carriage and dress, a stranger would guess,In Lon'on or Paris they'd gotten it a':
Miss Miller is fine, Miss Markland's divine,Miss Smith she has wit, and Miss Betty is braw:There's beauty and fortune to get wi' Miss Morton,But Armour's the jewel for me o' them a'.

WEE WILLIE.

Wee Willie Gray, and his leather wallet;Peel a willow-wand, to be him boots and jacket:The rose upon the briar will be him trouse and doublet,The rose upon the briar will be him trouse and doublet!Wee Willie Gray, and his leather wallet;Twice a lily flower will be him sark and cravat;Feathers of a flee wad feather up his bonnet,Feathers of a flee wad feather up his bonnet.
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