Dumfries, June 26, 1769.

     [Footnote 1:  Written for music played by Miss Lewars, who
     nursed him in his last illness.]

Fairest Maid On Devon Banks

     Tune—­’Rothiemurchie.”

     Chorus—­Fairest maid on Devon banks,
     Crystal Devon, winding Devon,
     Wilt thou lay that frown aside,
     And smile as thou wert wont to do?

     Full well thou know’st I love thee dear,
     Couldst thou to malice lend an ear! 
     O did not Love exclaim:  “Forbear,
     Nor use a faithful lover so.” 
     Fairest maid, &c.

     Then come, thou fairest of the fair,
     Those wonted smiles, O let me share;
     And by thy beauteous self I swear,
     No love but thine my heart shall know. 
     Fairest maid, &c.

Glossary

     A’, all. 
     A-back, behind, away. 
     Abiegh, aloof, off. 
     Ablins, v. aiblins. 
     Aboon, above up. 
     Abread, abroad. 
     Abreed, in breadth. 
     Ae, one. 
     Aff, off. 
     Aff-hand, at once. 
     Aff-loof, offhand. 
     A-fiel, afield. 
     Afore, before. 
     Aft, oft. 
     Aften, often. 
     Agley, awry. 
     Ahin, behind. 
     Aiblins, perhaps. 
     Aidle, foul water. 
     Aik, oak. 
     Aiken, oaken. 
     Ain, own. 
     Air, early. 
     Airle, earnest money. 
     Airn, iron. 
     Airt, direction. 
     Airt, to direct. 
     Aith, oath. 
     Aits, oats. 
     Aiver, an old horse. 
     Aizle, a cinder. 
     A-jee, ajar; to one side. 
     Alake, alas. 
     Alane, alone. 
     Alang, along. 
     Amaist, almost. 
     Amang, among. 
     An, if. 
     An’, and. 
     Ance, once. 
     Ane, one. 
     Aneath, beneath. 
     Anes, ones. 
     Anither, another. 
     Aqua-fontis, spring water. 
     Aqua-vitae, whiskey. 
     Arle, v. airle. 
     Ase, ashes. 
     Asklent, askew, askance. 
     Aspar, aspread. 
     Asteer, astir. 
     A’thegither, altogether. 
     Athort, athwart. 
     Atweel, in truth. 
     Atween, between. 
     Aught, eight. 
     Aught, possessed of. 
     Aughten, eighteen. 
     Aughtlins, at all. 
     Auld, old. 
     Auldfarran, auldfarrant, shrewd, old-fashioned, sagacious. 
     Auld Reekie, Edinburgh. 
     Auld-warld, old-world. 
     Aumous, alms. 
     Ava, at all. 
     Awa, away. 
     Awald, backways and doubled up. 
     Awauk, awake. 
     Awauken, awaken. 
     Awe, owe. 
     Awkart, awkward. 
     Awnie, bearded. 
     Ayont, beyond.