The Minstrel At Lincluden

As I stood by yonroofless tower,
Where the wa’flow’r scents the dery air,
Where the howletmourns in her ivy bower,
And tells the midnight moon her care.

Chorus-A lassie all alone, was making her moan,
Lamenting our lads beyond the sea:
In the bluidywars they fa’, and our honour’s ganean’a’,
And broken-hearted we maundie.

The winds were laid, the airwas till,
The stars they shot along the sky;
The todwas howling on the hill,
And the distant-echoing glens reply.
A lassie all alone, &c.

The burn, adown its hazelly path,
Was rushing bythe ruin’d wa’,
Hasting to join the sweeping Nith,
Whaseroarings seem’d to rise and fa’.
A lassie all alone, &c.

The cauldblaeNorth was streaming forth
Her lights, wi’ hissing, eeriedin,
Athortthe liftthey start and shift,
Like Fortune’s favours, tintas win.
A lassie all alone, &c.

Now, looking over firth and fauld,
Her hornthe pale-faced Cynthia rear’d,
When lo! in form of Minstrel auld,
A stern and stalwart ghaistappear’d.
A lassie all alone, &c.

And fraehis harp sicstrains did flow,
Might rous’d the slumbering Deadto hear;
But oh, it was a tale of woe,
As ever met a Briton’s ear!
A lassie all alone, &c.

He sang wi’joy his former day,
He, weeping, wail’d his latter times;
Butwhat he said-it was naeplay,
I winnaventure’t in my rhymes.
A lassie all alone, &c.