with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns
with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns
n O fickle fortune ! why this cruel sporting ? Why thus perplex us poor sons of a day ? Thy frowns cannot fear me, thy smiles cannot cheer me. Since the flowers of the forest are a' wede awae.* * These verses, " adapted to the ancient air of the Flowers of the Forest, are, like the Elegy which precedes them, the pro- duction of a lady. The late Mrs. Cockburn, daughter of Ru- therford of Fairnalie, in Selkirkshire, and relict of Mr. Cock- burn of Ormiston, was the authoress. Mrs. Cockburn has been dead but a few years. Even at an age, advanced beyond the usual bounds of humanity, she retained a play of imagination, and an activity of intellect, which was almost preternatural at her period of life. Her active benevolence, keeping pace with her genius, rendered her equally an object of love and ad- miration." Border Minstrelsy^ vol. iii. p. 130.
73 TIBBIE DUNBAR. Tune — Johnny M'Gill. This tune is said to be the composition of John M' Gill, fiddler, in Gircan, He called it after his own name. O, wilt thou go wi' me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar ; O, wilt thou go wi' me, sweet Tibbie Dunbar Wilt thou ride on a horse, or be drawn in a car. Or walk by my side, O sweet Tibbie Dunbar ? I carena thy daddie, his lands and his money, I carena thy kin, sae high and sae lordly But say thou wilt hae me for better for waur. And come in thy coatie, sweet Tibbie Dunbar GILL MORICE.* This plaintive ballad ought to have been called Child Maurice, and not Gill Morice. In its pre- * Gray, in one of his letters, thus remarks on Child Maurice : " I have got the old Scotch ballad on which Douglas was found- : ; ! ed;
- Page 278 and 279: 22 The bonie lassie made the bed to
- Page 280 and 281: Theft she pat siller in my purse, W
- Page 282 and 283: 26 AULD ROBIN GRAY. This air was fo
- Page 284 and 285: 28 I gang like a ghaist, and I care
- Page 286 and 287: ^ When we gaed to the braes o' Mar,
- Page 288 and 289: 32 He streight gaed to Duniblane ag
- Page 290 and 291: 34 Represents hoary locks; an old b
- Page 292 and 293: 36 And there will be lang-kail and
- Page 294 and 295: S8 And there will be happer-ars'd N
- Page 296 and 297: 40 O CAN YE XABOUR LEA, YOUNG MAN.
- Page 298 and 299: 42 WHEN I UPON THY BOSOM LEAN. Tune
- Page 300 and 301: 44 MY HARRY WAS A GALLANT GAY. Tune
- Page 302 and 303: 46 The captive bands may chain the
- Page 304 and 305: 48 And in Scotia's cold climate may
- Page 306 and 307: 50 Pan playing on his aiten reed, A
- Page 308 and 309: 50, What sweeter music wad ye hear,
- Page 310 and 311: 54 Woo'd and married and a\ Married
- Page 312 and 313: 56 Young luckie thus fand hersel' m
- Page 314 and 315: 6B " What's the matter?" quo' Willi
- Page 316 and 317: m MUIRLAND WILLIE, Hearken, and I w
- Page 318 and 319: 6^2 Besides, I had frae the great l
- Page 320 and 321: 64 Their toys and mutches were sae
- Page 322 and 323: 66 O soft as love ! as honour fair
- Page 324 and 325: 6S Lasses a' lilting before the bre
- Page 326 and 327: 70 O dule for the order Sent our la
- Page 330 and 331: 74 sent dress, it has gained immort
- Page 332 and 333: 76 'Tis na for naught, bauld Duncan
- Page 334 and 335: 78 He wav'd his hand : the pipers p
- Page 336 and 337: 80 What ! shall our hearts of steel
- Page 338 and 339: 82 KENNETH. I weird, I weird, hard-
- Page 340 and 341: 84 The youth that bare Lord Kenneth
- Page 342 and 343: 86 But William never liv'd to flee
- Page 344 and 345: 88 Below the arrows* arch they rush
- Page 346 and 347: 00 I'll tak the curchie aff my head
- Page 348 and 349: 92 sunt etienings than at all the h
- Page 350 and 351: 9i THE GABERLUNZIE-MAN.'^ The Gaher
- Page 352 and 353: 96 Between the twa was made a plot
- Page 354 and 355: 98 Wi' cauk and keel I'll win your
- Page 356 and 357: This song is mine. 100 THE LAZY MIS
- Page 358 and 359: 102 What a happy nation this will b
- Page 360 and 361: 104 I LOVE MY JEAN. This air is by
- Page 362 and 363: 106 I hear her in the tunefu' birds
- Page 364 and 365: 108 And ay 1 muse and sing thy name
- Page 366 and 367: no His coat is the hue of his bonne
- Page 368 and 369: 1 1£ MY heart's in the HIGHLANDS,
- Page 370 and 371: 114 THE SHEPHERDS PREFERENCEo This
- Page 372 and 373: 116 The scenes where wretched fancy
- Page 374 and 375: 118 tULLOCHGORUM. This, first of so
- Page 376 and 377: 120 They're dowf and dowie at the b
n<br />
O fickle fortune ! why this cruel sporting ?<br />
Why thus perplex us poor sons of a day ?<br />
Thy frowns cannot fear me, thy smiles cannot cheer<br />
me.<br />
Since the flowers of the forest are a' wede awae.*<br />
* These verses, " adapted to the ancient air of the Flowers of<br />
the Forest, are, like the Elegy which precedes them, the pro-<br />
duction of a lady. The late Mrs. Cockburn, daughter of Ru-<br />
therford of Fairnalie, in Selkirkshire, <strong>and</strong> relict of Mr. Cock-<br />
burn of Ormiston, was the authoress. Mrs. Cockburn has been<br />
dead but a few years. Even at an age, advanced beyond the<br />
usual bounds of humanity, she retained a play of imagination,<br />
<strong>and</strong> an activity of intellect, which was almost preternatural at<br />
her period of life. Her active benevolence, keeping pace <strong>with</strong><br />
her genius, rendered her equally an object of love <strong>and</strong> ad-<br />
miration."<br />
Border Minstrelsy^ vol. iii. p. 130.
Change language