The Modern Scottish Minstrel Volume Ii Part 23

O leeze me on the bonnie la.s.s That I lo'e best o' a'; O leeze me on my Marion, The pride o' Lockershaw.

O weel I like my Marion, For love blinks in her e'e, And she has vow'd a solemn vow, She lo'es na ane but me.

The flowers grow bonnie on the bank, Where doun the waters fa'; The birds sing bonnie in the bower, Where red, red roses blaw.

An' there, wi' blythe and lightsome heart, When day has closed his e'e, I wander wi' my Marion, Wha lo'es na ane but me.

Sic luve as mine an' Marion's, O, may it never fa'!

But blume aye like the fairest flower, That grows in Lockershaw.

My Marion I will ne'er forget Until the day I dee, For she has vow'd a solemn vow, She lo'es na ane but me.

QUEEN MARY'S ESCAPE FROM LOCHLEVEN CASTLE.

_Highland Boat-air._

Put off, put off, and row with speed, For now 's the time, and the hour of need!

To oars, to oars, and trim the bark, Nor Scotland's queen be a warder's mark!

Yon light that plays round the castle's moat Is only the warder's random shot!

Put off, put off, and row with speed, For now is the time, and the hour of need!

Those pond'rous keys[93] shall the kelpies keep, And lodge in their caverns dark and deep; Nor shall Lochleven's towers or hall, Hold thee, our lovely lady, in thrall; Or be the haunt of traitors, sold, While Scotland has hands and hearts so bold; Then, steersmen, steersmen, on with speed, For now is the time, and the hour of need!

Hark! the alarum-bell hath rung, And the warder's voice hath treason sung; The echoes to the falconet's roar, Chime swiftly to the das.h.i.+ng oar.

Let town, and hall, and battlements gleam, We steer by the light of the tapers' beam; For Scotland and Mary, on with speed, Now, now is the time, and the hour of need!

[93] The keys here alluded to were, at a recent period, found in the lake.

WHEN CHARLIE TO THE HIGHLANDS CAME.

AIR--_"The bonnie Mill-dams o' Balgonie."_

When Charlie to the Highlands came, It was a' joy and gladness, We trow'd na that our hearts sae soon Wad broken be wi' sadness.

Oh! why did Heaven sae on us frown, And break our hearts wi' sorrow; Oh! it will never smile again, And bring a gladsome morrow!

Our dwellings, and our outlay gear, Lie smoking, and in ruin; Our bravest youths, like mountain deer, The foe is oft pursuing.

Our home is now the barren rock, As if by Heaven forsaken; Our shelter and our canopy, The heather and the bracken.

Oh! we maun wander far and near, And foreign lands maun hide in; Our bonnie glens, we lo'ed sae dear, We daurna langer bide in.

LORD RONALD CAME TO HIS LADY'S BOWER.

Lord Ronald came to his lady's bower, When the moon was in her wane; Lord Ronald came at a late, late hour, And to her bower is gane.

He saftly stept in his sandal shoon, And saftly laid him doun; "It 's late, it 's late," quoth Ellenore, "Sin ye maun wauken soon.

"Lord Ronald, stay till the early c.o.c.k Shall flap his siller wing, An' saftly ye maun ope the gate, An' loose the silken string."

"O Ellenore, my fairest fair, O Ellenore, my bride!

How can ye fear when my merry men a'

Are on the mountain side."

The moon was hid, the night was sped, But Ellenore's heart was wae; She heard the c.o.c.k flap his siller wing, An' she watched the morning ray: "Rise up, rise up, Lord Ronald, dear, The mornin' opes its e'e; Oh, speed thee to thy father's tower, And safe, safe may thou be."

But there was a page, a little fause page, Lord Ronald did espy, An' he has told his baron all, Where the hind and hart did lie.

"It is na for thee, but thine, Lord Ronald, Thy father's deeds o' weir; But since the hind has come to my faul', His blood shall dim my spear."

Lord Ronald kiss'd fair Ellenore, And press'd her lily hand; Sic a comely knight and comely dame Ne'er met in wedlock's band: But the baron watch'd, as he raised the latch, And kiss'd again his bride; And with his spear, in deadly ire, He pierced Lord Ronald's side.

The life-blood fled frae fair Ellenore's cheek, She look'd all wan and ghast; She lean'd her down by Lord Ronald's side, An' the blood was rinnin' fast: She kiss'd his lip o' the deadlie hue, But his life she cou'dna stay; Her bosom throbb'd ae deadlie throb, An' their spirits baith fled away.

THE LOVELY MAID OF ORMADALE.

AIR--_"Highland La.s.sie."_

When sets the sun o'er Lomond's height, To blaze upon the western wave; When peace and love possess the grove, And echo sleeps within the cave; Led by love's soft endearing charms, I stray the pathless winding vale, And hail the hour that gives to me The lovely maid of Ormadale.

Her eyes outs.h.i.+ne the star of night, Her cheeks the morning's rosy hue; And pure as flower in summer shade, Low bending in the pearly dew: Nor flower sae fair and lovely pure, Shall fate's dark wintry winds a.s.sail; As angel-smile she aye will be Dear to the bowers of Ormadale.

Let fortune soothe the heart of care, And wealth to all its votaries give; Be mine the rosy smile of love, And in its blissful arms to live.

I would resign fair India's wealth, And sweet Arabia's spicy gale, For balmy eve and Scotian bower, With thee, loved maid of Ormadale.

A La.s.sIE CAM' TO OUR GATE.

A la.s.sie cam' to our gate yestreen, An' low she curtsied doun; She was lovelier far, an' fairer to see, Then a' our ladies roun'.

Oh, whare do ye wend, my sweet winsome doo?

An' whare may your dwelling be?

But her heart, I trow, was liken to break, An' the tear-drap dimm'd her e'e.