To see her cousin she cam’ there,
    An’, oh, the scene was passing fair! 
    For what in Scotland can compare
      Wi’ the Carse o’ Gowrie? 
    The sun was setting on the Tay,
    The blue hills melting into gray;
    The mavis’ and the blackbird’s lay
      Were sweetly heard in Gowrie.

    Oh, lang the lassie I had woo’d! 
    An’ truth and constancy had vow’d,
    But cam’ nae speed wi’ her I lo’ed,
      Until she saw fair Gowrie. 
    I pointed to my faither’s ha’,
    Yon bonnie bield ayont the shaw,
    Sae loun’ that there nae blast could blaw;
      Wad she no bide in Gowrie?

    Her faither was baith glad and wae;
    Her mither she wad naething say;
    The bairnies thocht they wad get play
      If Kitty gaed to Gowrie. 
    She whiles did smile, she whiles did greet,
    The blush and tear were on her cheek;
    She naething said, an’ hung her head;
      But now she’s Leddy Gowrie.

[55] There are several other versions of this highly popular song.  One of these, the composition of William Reid of Glasgow, has already been adduced.  See ante, p. 157.  Another, which is one of the most celebrated, in the first two verses is nearly the same with the opening stanzas of Lady Nairn’s version, the sequel proceeding as follows:—­

        I praised her beauty loud an’ lang,
        Then round her waist my arms I flang,
        And said, “My dearie, will ye gang
          To see the Carse o’ Gowrie?

        “I’ll tak ye to my father’s ha’,
        In yon green field beside the shaw;
        I’ll mak you lady o’ them a’—­
          The brawest wife in Gowrie.”

        Soft kisses on her lips I laid,
        The blush upon her cheek soon spread;
        She whisper’d modestly, and said,
          “I’ll gang wi’ you to Gowrie.”

        The auld folks soon ga’e their consent,
        Syne for Mess John they quickly sent,
        Wha tied them to their heart’s content,
          And now she’s Lady Gowrie.

Mr Lyle, in his “Ancient Ballads and Songs” (Lond. 1827, 12mo, p. 138), presents an additional version, which we subjoin.  Mr Lyle remarks, that he had revised it from an old stall copy, ascribed to Colonel James Ramsay of Stirling Castle.

    THE BONNIE LASS O’ GOWRIE.

        A wee bit north frae yon green wood,
          Whar draps the sunny showerie,
        The lofty elm-trees spread their boughs,
          To shade the braes o’ Gowrie;
        An’ by yon burn ye scarce can see,
          There stan’s a rustic bowerie,
        Whar lives a lass mair dear to me
          Than a’ the maids in Gowrie.