The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

387
SHE'S FAIR AND FAUSE.
BURNS.
Tune—She's fair andfause.
She's fair and fause that causes my smart,
I loo'd her mickle and lang ;
She's broken her vow, she's broken my heart,
And I may e'en gae hang.
A cuif cam in wi' rowth o' gear,
And I hae tint my dearest deai"
But woman is but warld's gear,
Sae let the bonnie lass gang.
"Whae'er ye be that woman love,
To this be never blind,
Nae ferlie 'tis though fickle she prove ;
A woman has't by kind :
O woman, lonely woman fair !
An angel's form's faun to thy share,
*Twad been ower mickle to hae gi'en thee mair,
I mean an angel mind.
than one bishop to Dumblane. During the foreign travels of this young
gentleman, a person whom he had appointed to manage his correspondence
with Fair Helen, conceived a strong passion for her, and resolved to supplant
his friend. By prepossessing her with stories to the disadvantage of
young Cromlix, and suppressing his letters, he succeeded in incensing both
against each other. All connexion between them was consequently broken
off, and the traitor soon after succeeded in proeurmg from her a consent to
accept of himself for a husband. At the moment, however, when she was
put into the bridal bed, conscience prevented the consummation of her
lover's villainy. She started from his embraces, exclaiming that she had
heard Cromlix's voice, crying, " Helen, Helen, mind me ;" and no force
or arguments could prevail upon her to resume her place. The injured
Cromlix soon after came home, procured her marriage to be disannulled,
and married her himself.
The song was published in the Tea-Table Miscellany (1724), with the
signature letter X, which seems to mark all the songs in that collection
supposed by the editor to be of English origin.