The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

536
And bring an angel pen to write
My transports with my Anna.*
ON WI' THE TARTAN.
H. AINSLIE.
Can ye loe, my dear lassie,
The hills wild and free,
Whar the sang o' the shepherd
Gars a' ring wi* glee ?
Or the steep rocky glens,
Where the wild falcons bide !
Then on wi' the tartan,
And fy let us ride !
Can ye loe the knowes, lassie,
That ne'er war in rigs ?
Or on the bonnie loune knowes
Where the sweet robin biggs ?
Or the sang o' the lintie,
Whan wooin his bride ?
Then on wi' the tartan.
And fy let us ride !
Can ye loe the burn, lassie,
That loups amang linns ?
Or the bonnie green howmes
Where it cannilie rins ?
Wi' a cantie bit housie,
Sae snug by its side ?
Then on wi' tlie tartan,
And fy let us ride I
* This song, like " Highland Mary," affoids a strong proof of the power
which poetry possesses of raising and subliming objects naturally mean and
impure. Highland Mary was the dairy-maid of Coilsfield ; Anna is said to
have been something still meaner in the scale of society.