Robert Burns [1759-1796]
I LOVE MY JEAN
Of a' the airts the wind can blaw I dearly like the west, For there the bonnie lassie lives, The lassie I lo'e best: There's wild woods grow, and rivers row, And monie a hill between; But day and night my fancy's flight Is ever wi' my Jean.
I see her in the dewy flowers, I see her sweet and fair: I hear her in the tunefu' birds, I hear her charm the air: There's not a bonnie flower that springs By fountain, shaw, or green, There's not a bonnie bird that sings But minds me o' my Jean.
O blaw ye westlin winds, blaw saft Amang the leafy trees; Wi' balmy gale, frae hill and dale Bring hame the laden bees; And bring the lassie back to me That's aye sae neat and clean; Ae smile o' her wad banish care, Sae charming is my Jean.
What sighs and vows amang the knowes Hae passed atween us twa! How fond to meet, how wae to part That night she gaed awa! The Powers aboon can only ken To whom the heart is seen, That nane can be sae dear to me As my sweet lovely Jean!
The first two stanzas by Robert Burns [1759-1796] The last two by John Hamilton [1761-1814]
THE ROVER'S ADIEU From "Rokeby"
"A weary lot is thine, fair maid, A weary lot is thine! To pull the thorn thy brow to braid, And press the rue for wine. A lightsome eye, a soldier's mien, A feather of the blue, A doublet of the Lincoln green - No more of me ye knew, My Love! No more of me ye knew.
"This morn is merry June, I trow, The rose is budding fain; But she shall bloom in winter snow Ere we two meet again." - He turned his charger as he spake Upon the river shore, He gave the bridle-reins a shake, Said "Adieu for evermore, My Love! And adieu for evermore."
Walter Scott [1771-1832]
"LOUDOUN'S BONNIE WOODS AND BRAES"
"Loudoun's bonnie woods and braes, I maun lea' them a', lassie; Wha can thole when Britain's faes Wad gi'e Britons law, lassie? Wha wad shun the field o' danger? Wha frae fame wad live a stranger? Now when freedom bids avenge her, Wha wad shun her ca', lassie? Loudoun's bonnie woods and braes Hae seen our happy bridal days, And gentle Hope shall soothe thy waes When I am far awa', lassie."
"Hark! the swelling bugle sings, Yielding joy to thee, laddie, But the dolefu' bugle brings Waefu' thoughts to me, laddie. Lanely I maun climb the mountain, Lanely stray beside the fountain, Still the weary moments countin', Far frae love and thee, laddie. O'er the gory fields of war, When Vengeance drives his crimson car, Thou'lt maybe fa', frae me afar, And nane to close thy e'e, laddie."
"O! resume thy wonted smile! O! suppress thy fears, lassie! Glorious honor crowns the toil That the soldier shares, lassie; Heaven will shield thy faithful lover Till the vengeful strife is over; Then we'll meet nae mair to sever; Till the day we dee, lassie. 'Midst our bonnie woods and braes We'll spend our peaceful, happy days, As blithe's yon lightsome lamb that plays On Loudoun's flowery lea, lassie."
Robert Tannahill [1774-1810]
"FARE THEE WELL"
Fare thee well and if for ever, Still for ever, fare thee well: Even though unforgiving, never 'Gainst thee shall my heart rebel.
Would that breast were bared before thee Where thy head so oft hath lain, While that placid sleep came o'er thee Which thou ne'er canst know again:
Would that breast, by thee glanced over, Every inmost thought could show! Then thou wouldst at last discover 'Twas not well to spurn it so.
Though the world for this commend thee, - Though it smile upon the blow, Even its praises must offend thee, Founded on another's woe:
Though my many faults defaced me, Could no other arm be found Than the one which once embraced me, To inflict a cureless wound?
Yet, oh yet, thyself deceive not; Love may sink by slow decay, But by sudden wrench, believe not Hearts can thus be torn away:
Still thine own its life retaineth; - Still must mine, though bleeding, beat; And the undying thought which paineth Is - that we no more may meet.
These are words of deeper sorrow Than the wail above the dead; Both shall live, but every morrow Wake us from a widowed bed.
And when thou wouldst solace gather, When our child's first accents flow, Wilt thou teach her to say "Father!" Though his care she must forego?
When her little hands shall press thee, When her lip to thine is pressed, Think of him whose prayer shall bless thee, Think of him thy love had blessed!
Should her lineaments resemble Those thou nevermore may'st see, Then thy heart will softly tremble With a pulse yet true to me.
All my faults perchance thou knowest, All my madness none can know; All my hopes, where'er thou goest, Whither, yet with thee they go.
Every feeling hath been shaken; Pride, which not a world could bow, Bows to thee, - by thee forsaken, Even my soul forsakes me now:
But 'tis done, - all words are idle, - Words from me are vainer still; But the thoughts we cannot bridle Force their way without the will.
Fare thee well! - thus disunited, Torn from every nearer tie, Seared in heart, and lone, and blighted, More than this I scarce can die.
George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]
"MAID OF ATHENS, ERE WE PART"
Maid of Athens, ere we part, Give, oh, give me back my heart! Or, since that has left my breast, Keep it now, and take the rest! Hear my vow before I go, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)
By those tresses unconfined, Wooed by each Aegean wind; By those lids whose jetty fringe Kiss thy soft cheeks' blooming tinge; By those wild eyes like the roe, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)
By that lip I long to taste; By that zone-encircled waist; By all the token-flowers that tell What words can never speak so well; By love's alternate joy and woe, Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)
Maid of Athens! I am gone: Think of me, sweet! when alone. Though I fly to Istambol, Athens holds my heart and soul: Can I cease to love thee? No! Zoe mou, sas agapo. (My life, I love you.)
George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]
"WHEN WE TWO PARTED"
When we two parted In silence and tears, Half broken-hearted, To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this!
The dew of the morning Sunk chill on my brow; It felt like the warning Of what I feel now. Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame: I hear thy name spoken And share in its shame.
They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear; A shudder comes o'er me - Why wert thou so dear? They know not I knew thee Who knew thee too well: Long, long shall I rue thee Too deeply to tell.
In secret we met: In silence I grieve That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee? - With silence and tears.
George Gordon Byron [1788-1824]
"GO, FORGET ME"
Go, forget me! Why should sorrow O'er that brow a shadow fling? Go, forget me, - and to-morrow Brightly smile and sweetly sing. Smile - though I shall not be near thee. Sing - though I shall never hear thee. May thy soul with pleasure shine, Lasting as the gloom of mine.
Like the sun, thy presence glowing Clothes the meanest things in light; And when thou, like him, art going, Loveliest objects fade in night. All things looked so bright about thee, That they nothing seem without thee; By that pure and lucid mind Earthly things are too refined.
Go, thou vision, wildly gleaming, Softly on my soul that fell; Go, for me no longer beaming - Hope and Beauty, fare ye well! Go, and all that once delighted Take - and leave me, all benighted, Glory's burning, generous swell, Fancy, and the poet's shell.
Charles Wolfe [1791-1823]
LAST NIGHT
I sat with one I love last night, She sang to me an olden strain; In former times it woke delight, Last night - but pain.
Last night we saw the stars arise, But clouds soon dimmed the ether blue: And when we sought each other's eyes Tears dimmed them too!
We paced along our favorite walk, But paced in silence broken-hearted: Of old we used to smile and talk; Last night - we parted.
George Darley [1795-1846]
ADIEU
Let time and chance combine, combine, Let time and chance combine; The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My dear, That love of yours was mine.
The past is fled and gone, and gone, The past is fled and gone; If naught but pain to me remain, I'll fare in memory on, My dear, I'll fare in memory on.
The saddest tears must fall, must fall, The saddest tears must fall; In weal or woe, in this world below, I love you ever and all, My dear, I love you ever and all.
A long road full of pain, of pain, A long road full of pain; One soul, one heart, sworn ne'er to part, - We ne'er can meet again, My dear, We ne'er can meet again.
Hard fate will not allow, allow, Hard fate will not allow; We blessed were as the angels are, - Adieu forever now, My dear, Adieu forever now.
Thomas Carlyle [1795-1881]
JEANIE MORRISON
I've wandered east, I've wandered west, Through mony a weary way; But never, never can forget The luve o' life's young day! The fire that's blawn on Beltane e'en, May weel be black gin Yule; But blacker fa' awaits the heart Where first fond luve grows cule.