The Complete Works of Robert Burns
Chapter 115 : I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, A gate, I fear, I'll dearlie rue; I gat my de

I gaed a waefu' gate yestreen, A gate, I fear, I'll dearlie rue; I gat my death frae twa sweet een, Twa lovely een o' bonnie blue.

'Twas not her golden ringlets bright; Her lips, like roses, wat wi' dew, Her heaving bosom, lily-white-- It was her een sae bonnie blue.

II.

She talk'd, she smil'd, my heart she wyl'd; She charm'd my soul--I wist na how: And ay the stound, the deadly wound, Cam frae her een sae bonnie blue.

But spare to speak, and spare to speed; She'll aiblins listen to my vow: Should she refuse, I'll lay my dead To her twa een sae bonnie blue.

XCII.

THE BANKS OF NITH.

Tune--"_Robie donna Gorach._"

[The command which the Comyns held on the Nith was lost to the Dougla.s.ses: the Nithsdale power, on the downfall of that proud name, was divided; part went to the Charteris's and the better portion to the Maxwells: the Johnstones afterwards came in for a share, and now the Scots prevail.]

I.

The Thames flows proudly to the sea, Where royal cities stately stand; But sweeter flows the Nith, to me, Where Comyns ance had high command: When shall I see that honour'd land, That winding stream I love so dear!

Must wayward Fortune's adverse hand For ever, ever keep me here?

II.

How lovely, Nith, thy fruitful vales, Where spreading hawthorns gaily bloom!

How sweetly wind thy sloping dales, Where lambkins wanton thro' the broom!

Tho' wandering now, must be my doom, Far from thy bonnie banks and braes, May there my latest hours consume, Amang the friends of early days!

XCIII.

MY HEART IS A-BREAKING, DEAR t.i.tTIE.

Tune--"_Tam Glen._"

[Tam Glen is the t.i.tle of an old Scottish song, and older air: of the former all that remains is a portion of the chorus. Burns when he wrote it sent it to the Museum.]

I.

My heart is a-breaking, dear t.i.ttie!

Some counsel unto me come len', To anger them a' is a pity, But what will I do wi' Tam Glen?

II.

I'm thinking wi' sic a braw fellow, In poort.i.th I might make a fen'; What care I in riches to wallow, If I maunna marry Tam Glen?

III.

There's Lowrie the laird o' Dumeller, "Gude day to you, brute!" he comes ben: He brags and he blaws o' his siller, But when will he dance like Tam Glen?

IV.

My minnie does constantly deave me, And bids me beware o' young men; They flatter, she says, to deceive me, But wha can think so o' Tam Glen?

V.

My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him, He'll gie me guid hunder marks ten: But, if it's ordain'd I maun take him, O wha will I get but Tam Glen?

VI.

Yestreen at the Valentine's dealing, My heart to my mou' gied a sten; For thrice I drew ane without failing, And thrice it was written--Tam Glen.

VII.

The last Halloween I was waukin My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken; His likeness cam up the house staukin, And the very grey breeks o' Tam Glen!

VIII.

Come counsel, dear t.i.ttie! don't tarry-- I'll gie you my bonnie black hen, Gif ye will advise me to marry The lad that I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen.

XCIV.

FRAE THE FRIENDS AND LAND I LOVE.

Air--"_Carron Side._"

[Burns says, "I added the four last lines, by way of giving a turn to the theme of the poem, such as it is." The rest of the song is supposed to be from the same hand: the lines are not to be found in earlier collections.]

I.

Frae the friends and land I love, Driv'n by fortune's felly spite, Frae my best belov'd I rove, Never mair to taste delight; Never mair maun hope to find, Ease frae toil, relief frae care: When remembrance wracks the mind, Pleasures but unveil despair.

II.