"Ye banks and braes o' bonie Doon, How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae weary fu' o' care! Thou'll break my heart, thou warbling bird, That wantons thro' the flowering thorn: Thou minds me o' departed joys, Departed never to return. AfthaeI rov'd byBonieDoon,
"Talk not to me of savages, From Afric's burning sun; Nosavage e'ercould rend my heart, As Jessie, thou hast done: ButJessie's lovely hand in mine, A mutual faith to plight, Not even to view the heavenly choir, Would be so blest a sight."
"But rarely seen since Nature's birth, The natives of the sky; Yet still one seraph's left on earth, For Jessie did not die."
"Say, sages, what's the charm on earth Can turn Death's dart aside! It is not purity and worth, Else Jessie had not died."
As I was a-wand'ring aemorning in spring, I heard a young ploughman saesweetly to sing; And as he was singin', thirwords he did say, - There's naelife like the ploughman's in the month o'sweet May. The lav'rock in the morning she'll rise fraeher nest, And mount i'the airwi' the dew on her breast, And wi'the
All devil as I am-a damned wretch, A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain, Still my heart melts at human wretchedness; And with sincere but unavailing sighs I view the helpless children of distress: With tears indignant I behold the oppressor Rejoicing in the honest man's destruction, Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime. - Ev'n you,
Fill me with the rosy wine, Call a toast, a toast divine: Giveth me Poet's darling flame, Lovely Jessie be her name; Then thou mayest freely boast, Thou hast given a peerless toast.
Chorus-Fairest maid on Devon banks, Crystal Devon, winding Devon, Wilt thou lay that frown aside, And smile as thou wert wont to do? Full well thou know'st I love thee dear, Couldst thou to malice lend anear! O did not Love exclaim: "Forbear, Nor use a faithful lover so." Fairest maid, &c. Then come, thou