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
28 Upon the green the virgins wait, In rosy chaplets gay, 'Till morn unbar her golden gate, And give the promised May. Methinks I hear the maids declare The promis'd May, when seen. Not half so fragrant, half so fair, As Kate of Aberdeen Strike up the tabor's boldest notes. We'll rouse the nodding grove; The nested birds shall raise their throats. And hail the maid I love : turned once more beneath her sheltering roof, and related his sad story. The repulse, however, preyed deeply on his spirits, and drove him to that fatal resource of disappointment,— dram driaking. When he had money he gave it away to people in distress, leaving himself pennyless. His kind protectress, Mrs. Slack, used to empty his pockets before he went out, of the httle that was in them, as one takes hal^ence from a school-boy to prevent him from purchasing improper trash : How illustrative of the childish simpHcity of his character! From his emaciated appearance in this portrait, he might be supposed very aged; yet from the inscription on his tomb-stone in the churchyard of St. John's, at Newcastle, it appears he was only 44 years old when he died. These particulars were collected from Mrs. Slack's daughter, and Mr. Thomas Bewick, both of Newcastle.
29 And see— the matin lark mistakes, He quits the tufted green Fond bird ! 'tis not the morning breaks, 'Tis Kate of Aberdeen Now hghtsome o'er the level mead, Where midnight fairies rove, Like them, the jocund dance we'll lead. Or tune the reed to love For see the rosy May draws nigh, She claims a virgin queen And hark, the happy shepherds cry, " 'Tis Kate of Aberdeen !" THE-LASS OF PATIE S MILL. In Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland, this song is localized (a verb I must use for want of an- other to express my idea) somewhere in the North of Scotland, and likewise is claimed hy Ayrshire.— Thefollowing anecdote I had from the present Sir William Cunningham, of Robertland, who had it from the last John, Earl of Loudon.— The then Earl of Loudon, father to Earl John, before men- tioned, had Ramsay at Loudon, and one day walk-
- Page 1 and 2: J^^. ^^y m ;.v"5 :Hx ;>**;m 'fmm. %
- Page 3 and 4: I.^wl
- Page 7: SELECT SCOTISH SONGS, ANCIENT AND M
- Page 10 and 11: tyre,* Ritson,f and above all, by B
- Page 12 and 13: IV given us, and possibly it may gi
- Page 14 and 15: VI to recollect so much of it as sh
- Page 16 and 17: vin And to each month add five year
- Page 18 and 19: The man doth thrive to thirty -five
- Page 20 and 21: xu Then may he say, both night and
- Page 22 and 23: In what state ever that thou be, re
- Page 24 and 25: XVI gotten bards we owe some of his
- Page 26 and 27: music are both posterior to the day
- Page 28 and 29: The guilt appeared in Jamie's cheek
- Page 30 and 31: 6 to tvhom I am indebted for the an
- Page 32 and 33: ~s THE BEDS OF SWEET ROSES. This so
- Page 34 and 35: Fee him, father,* fee him, quo' she
- Page 36 and 37: 12 SAW YE NAE MY PEGGY? This charmi
- Page 38 and 39: 14 Saw ye my Maggie, Saw ye my Magg
- Page 40 and 41: 16 gallant though unfortunate house
- Page 42 and 43: 18 To this day among people who kno
- Page 44 and 45: 20 Let neist day come as it thinks
- Page 46 and 47: 22 THE LAST TIME 1 CAME O ER THE MO
- Page 48 and 49: £4 To dead him weel shall be my ca
- Page 50 and 51: 26 The poor poet, with that inoffen
- Page 54 and 55: 30 .; ing together by the banks of
- Page 56 and 57: 32 THE TURNIMSPIKE. There is a stan
- Page 58 and 59: 34 They tak the horse then py te he
- Page 60 and 61: 36 ^c." It consists of three stanza
- Page 62 and 63: 38 THE BLAITHRIE O T. The following
- Page 64 and 65: 40 Tho' we hae nae horses or menzie
- Page 66 and 67: m worthy and able defender of the b
- Page 68 and 69: 44 Say, charmer, where do thy flock
- Page 70 and 71: 46 O weel may the boatie row. That
- Page 72 and 73: THE POSIE. It appears evident to me
- Page 74 and 75: 5a The primrose I will pu', the fir
- Page 76 and 77: 52 She from her pillow gently rais'
- Page 78 and 79: 54 Up raise the good man's dochter,
- Page 80 and 81: 66 And he took out his little knife
- Page 82 and 83: 58 Hart, and hynd, and fallow-deer,
- Page 84 and 85: 60 THE COLLIERS BONIE LASSIE. Thefi
- Page 86 and 87: 6^ Come, in thy raven plumage, Nigh
- Page 88 and 89: 64 DOWN THE BURN, DAVIE. I HAVE bee
- Page 90 and 91: 66 What pass'd, I guess, was harmle
- Page 92 and 93: 68 came first on the streets as a b
- Page 94 and 95: 70 Sae true's his words, sae smooth
- Page 96 and 97: 72 pedia Britannicaj which he compo
- Page 98 and 99: 74 SAE MERRY AS WE TWA HA E BEEN. T
- Page 100 and 101: 70 flouir his grave to crown !" Thi
28<br />
Upon the green the virgins wait,<br />
In rosy chaplets gay,<br />
'Till morn unbar her golden gate,<br />
And give the promised May.<br />
Methinks I hear the maids declare<br />
The promis'd May, when seen.<br />
Not half so fragrant, half so fair,<br />
As Kate of Aberdeen<br />
Strike up the tabor's boldest notes.<br />
We'll rouse the nodding grove;<br />
The nested birds shall raise their throats.<br />
And hail the maid I love :<br />
turned once more beneath her sheltering roof, <strong>and</strong> related his<br />
sad story.<br />
The repulse, however, preyed deeply on his spirits, <strong>and</strong> drove<br />
him to that fatal resource of disappointment,— dram driaking.<br />
When he had money he gave it away to people in distress,<br />
leaving himself pennyless. His kind protectress, Mrs. Slack,<br />
used to empty his pockets before he went out, of the httle that<br />
was in them, as one takes hal^ence from a school-boy to prevent<br />
him from purchasing improper trash : How illustrative of the<br />
childish simpHcity of his character!<br />
From his emaciated appearance in this portrait, he might be<br />
supposed very aged; yet from the inscription on his tomb-stone<br />
in the churchyard of St. John's, at Newcastle, it appears he was<br />
only 44 years old when he died.<br />
These particulars were collected from Mrs. Slack's daughter,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Mr. Thomas Bewick, both of Newcastle.