Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/342

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THE SONGS OF BURNS.

THE BANKS OF NITH.

A BALLAD.

To thee, lov'd Nith, thy gladsome plains,Where late wi' careless thought I rang'd,Tho' prest wi' care and sunk in woe,To thee I bring a heart unchang'd.
I love thee, Nith, thy banks and braes,Tho' mem'ry there my bosom tear;For there he rov'd that brake my heart,Yet to that heart, ah, still how dear!

BONIE PEG.

As I came in by our gate end,As day was waxin' weary,O wha came tripping down the street,But bonie Peg, my dearie!
Her air sae sweet, and shape complete,Wi' nae proportion wanting,The Queen of Love did never moveWi' motion mair enchanting.
Wi' linked hands, we took the sandsA-down yon winding river;And, oh! that hour and broomy bower,Can I forget it ever?

O GUID ALE COMES.

CHORUS.O guid ale comes, and guid ale goes,Guid ale gars me sell my hose,Sell my hose, and pawn my shoon,Guid ale keeps my heart aboon.
I had sax owsen in a pleugh,They drew a' weel eneough,I sell'd them a' just ane by ane;Guid ale keeps my heart aboon.
Guid ale hauds me bare and busy,Gars me moop wi' the servant hizzie,Stand i' the stool when I hae done,Guid ale keeps my heart aboon.O guid ale comes, &c.

O LAY THY LOOF IN MINE, LASS.

CHORUS.O lay thy loof in mine, lass,In mine, lass, in mine, lass,And swear in thy white hand, lass,That thou wilt be my ain.
A slave to love's unbounded sway,He aft has wrought me meikle wae;But now he is my deadly fae,Unless thou be my ain.O lay thy loof, &c.
There's monie a lass has broke my rest,That for a blink I hae lo'ed best;But thou art Queen within my breast,For ever to remain.O lay thy loof, &c.

O AY MY WIFE SHE DANG ME.

CHORUS.O ay my wife she dang me,An' aft my wife did bang me;If ye gie a woman a' her will,Guid faith she'll soon o'ergang ye.
On peace and rest my mind was bent,And fool I was I marry'd;But never honest man's intentAs cursedly miscarry'd.
Some sa'r o' comfort still at last,When a' thir days are done, man,My pains o' hell on earth are past,I'm sure o' bliss aboon, man.O ay my wife, &c.
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