Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns Part 48

The Bonie Moor-Hen

The heather was blooming, the meadows were mawn, Our lads gaed a-hunting ae day at the dawn, O'er moors and o'er mosses and mony a glen, At length they discover'd a bonie moor-hen.

Chorus.--I rede you, beware at the hunting, young men, I rede you, beware at the hunting, young men; Take some on the wing, and some as they spring, But cannily steal on a bonie moor-hen.

Sweet--brus.h.i.+ng the dew from the brown heather bells Her colours betray'd her on yon mossy fells; Her plumage outl.u.s.tr'd the pride o' the spring And O! as she wanton'd sae gay on the wing.

I rede you, &c.

Auld Phoebus himself, as he peep'd o'er the hill, In spite at her plumage he tried his skill; He levell'd his rays where she bask'd on the brae-- His rays were outshone, and but mark'd where she lay.

I rede you,&c.

They hunted the valley, they hunted the hill, The best of our lads wi' the best o' their skill; But still as the fairest she sat in their sight, Then, whirr! she was over, a mile at a flight.

I rede you, &c.

Song--My Lord A-Hunting

Chorus.--My lady's gown, there's gairs upon't, And gowden flowers sae rare upon't; But Jenny's jimps and jirkinet, My lord thinks meikle mair upon't.

My lord a-hunting he is gone, But hounds or hawks wi' him are nane; By Colin's cottage lies his game, If Colin's Jenny be at hame.

My lady's gown, &c.

My lady's white, my lady's red, And kith and kin o' Ca.s.sillis' blude; But her ten-pund lands o' tocher gude; Were a' the charms his lords.h.i.+p lo'ed.

My lady's gown, &c.

Out o'er yon muir, out o'er yon moss, Whare gor-c.o.c.ks thro' the heather pa.s.s, There wons auld Colin's bonie la.s.s, A lily in a wilderness.

My lady's gown, &c.

Sae sweetly move her genty limbs, Like music notes o'lovers' hymns: The diamond-dew in her een sae blue, Where laughing love sae wanton swims.

My lady's gown, &c.

My lady's d.i.n.k, my lady's drest, The flower and fancy o' the west; But the la.s.sie than a man lo'es best, O that's the la.s.s to mak him blest.

My lady's gown, &c.

Epigram At Roslin Inn

My blessings on ye, honest wife!

I ne'er was here before; Ye've wealth o' gear for spoon and knife-- Heart could not wish for more.

Heav'n keep you clear o' sturt and strife, Till far ayont fourscore, And while I toddle on thro' life, I'll ne'er gae by your door!

Epigram Addressed To An Artist

Dear _____, I'll gie ye some advice, You'll tak it no uncivil: You shouldna paint at angels mair, But try and paint the devil.

To paint an Angel's kittle wark, Wi' Nick, there's little danger: You'll easy draw a lang-kent face, But no sae weel a stranger.--R. B.

The Book-Worms

Through and through th' inspir'd leaves, Ye maggots, make your windings; But O respect his lords.h.i.+p's taste, And spare his golden bindings.

On Elphinstone's Translation Of Martial's Epigrams

O Thou whom Poetry abhors, Whom Prose has turned out of doors, Heard'st thou yon groan?--proceed no further, 'Twas laurel'd Martial calling murther.

Song--A Bottle And Friend

There's nane that's blest of human kind, But the cheerful and the gay, man, Fal, la, la, &c.

Here's a bottle and an honest friend!

What wad ye wish for mair, man?

Wha kens, before his life may end, What his share may be o' care, man?

Then catch the moments as they fly, And use them as ye ought, man: Believe me, happiness is shy, And comes not aye when sought, man.

Lines Written Under The Picture Of The Celebrated Miss Burns

Cease, ye prudes, your envious railing, Lovely Burns has charms--confess: True it is, she had one failing, Had a woman ever less?

Epitaph For William Nicol, Of The High School, Edinburgh

Ye maggots, feed on Nicol's brain, For few sic feasts you've gotten; And fix your claws in Nicol's heart, For deil a bit o't's rotten.

Epitaph For Mr. William Michie