The Scottish songs - National Library of Scotland

390
At's curpin auld Janet, too, huinpled
Awa to the neist neebour-toun
There footmen and yeomen paradin',
To scour oif in dirdum were seen
And wives and young lasses a' sheddin
The briny saut tears frae their een.
Then afF wi' his bonnet got Symie,
And to the commander he gaes,
Quo he, sir, I mean to gae wi' ye.
And help ye to lounder our faes
I'm auld, yet I'm teuch as the wire,
Sae we'll at the rogues hae a dash,
And fegs, if my gun winna fire,
I'll turn her but-end and I'll thrash.
Well spoken, my hearty old hero I
The captain did smilin' reply
But begg'd he wad stay till to-morrow,
Till day-licht should glent in the sky.
What reck, a' the stoure cam' to naething
Sae Symon, and Janet his dame,
Halescart, frae the wars, without skaithing,
Gaed, bannin the French, away hame.
SPEAK ON, SPEAK THUS.*
RAMSAY.
TunE— Wae^s my heart that ive should sunder.
Speak on, speak thus, and still my grief:
Hold up a heart that's sinkin' under
These fears, that soon will want relief.
When Pate must from his Peggie sunder.
* From the Gentle Shepherd. In this song Ramsay displays a degree of
sentiment which he has nowhere else reached or attempted.