The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 366 pages of information about The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I..

The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 366 pages of information about The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I..

    “Awa’ wi’ beguiling,” cried the youth, smiling;—­
      Aff went the bonnet; the lint-white locks flee;
    The belted plaid fa’ing, her white bosom shawing—­
      Fair stood the lo’ed maid wi’ the dark rolling e’e. 
    “Is it my wee thing? is it mine ain thing? 
      Is it my true love here that I see?”
    “Oh, Jamie, forgi’e me! your heart ’s constant to me;
      I ’ll never mair wander, dear laddie, frae thee!”

[12] This song was first published, in May 1791, in The Bee, an Edinburgh periodical, conducted by Dr James Anderson.

MY BOY, TAMMY.[13]

    “Whare hae ye been a’ day,
        My boy, Tammy? 
    Whare hae ye been a’ day,
        My boy, Tammy?”
    “I ’ve been by burn and flow’ry brae,
    Meadow green, and mountain gray,
    Courting o’ this young thing,
        Just come frae her mammy.”

    “And whare got ye that young thing,
        My boy, Tammy?”
    “I gat her down in yonder howe,
    Smiling on a broomy knowe,
    Herding a wee lamb and ewe
        For her poor mammy.”

    “What said ye to the bonnie bairn,
        My boy, Tammy?”
    “I praised her een, sae bonny blue,
    Her dimpled cheek, and cherry mou’;
    I pree’d it aft, as ye may true;—­
        She said she ’d tell her mammy.

    “I held her to my beating heart,
        My young, my smiling lammie! 
    ’I hae a house, it cost me dear;
    I ‘ve wealth o’ plenishin’ and gear;—­
    Ye ‘se get it a’, were ’t ten times mair,
        Gin ye will leave your mammy.’

    “The smile gaed aff her bonnie face—­
        ’I maunna leave my mammy;
    She ’s gi’en me meat, she ’s gi’en me claise,
    She ‘s been my comfort a’ my days;
    My father’s death brought mony waes—­
        I canna leave my mammy.’”

    “We ’ll tak her hame, and mak her fain,
        My ain kind-hearted lammie;
    We ’ll gi’e her meat, we ’ll gi’e her claise,
    We ‘ll be her comfort a’ her days.” 
    The wee thing gi’es her hand and says—­
        “There! gang and ask my mammy.”

    “Has she been to kirk wi’ thee,
        My boy, Tammy?”
    “She has been to kirk wi’ me,
    And the tear was in her e’e;
    But, oh! she ’s but a young thing,
        Just come frae her mammy.”

[13] This beautiful ballad was first printed, in 1791, in The Bee.  It is adapted to an old and sweet air, to which, however, very puerile words were attached.

OH, TELL ME HOW FOR TO WOO![14]

TUNE—­"Bonnie Dundee."

“Oh, tell me, bonnie young lassie! 
Oh, tell me how for to woo! 
Oh, tell me, bonnie sweet lassie! 
Oh, tell me how for to woo! 
Say, maun I roose your cheeks like the morning? 
Lips, like the roses, fresh moisten’d wi’ dew;
Say, maun I roose your een’s pawkie scorning? 
Oh, tell me how for to woo!

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Project Gutenberg
The Modern Scottish Minstrel , Volume I. from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.