The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

516
Though winter wild in tempest toiled,
Ne'er summer sun was half sae sweet.
Than a' the pride that loads the tide,
And crosses o'er the sultry line.
Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes,
It gave me more—it made thee mine.
While day and night can bring delight,
Or nature aught of pleasure give,
While joys above my mind can move,
For thee, and thee alone, 1 live !
When that grim foe of life below
Comes in between to make us part,
The iron hand that breaks our band,
It breaks my bliss—it breaks my heart.*
MY SODGER LADDIE.
[the soldier's doxy's song in " THE JOLLY
BEGGARS."]
BURNS.
Tune—Sodger laddie.
I ONCE was a maid, though I cannot tell when,
And still my delight is in proper young men
Some one of a troop of dragoons was ray daddie,
No wonder I'm fond of a sodger laddie.
The first of my loves was a swaggering blade,
To rattle the thundering drum was his trade ;
* This song, which first appeared in Johnson's Musical Museum, Part
iii, 1790, was written in compliment to Mr and Mrs Riddle, of Glenriddel,
two of the poet's dearest and most valuable friends. The reader will observe
that it is a sort of anniversary ode for the recurrence of the marriage
day of this worthy couple.
;
—