Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/173

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[ spirited song by the first appeared in his novel entitled "The Three Perils of Man," 1821, 3 vols. It is sung to the old tune of "The Blathrie o't."]

sing of yon glen o' red heather,

An' a dear thing that ca's it her hame,

Wha's a' made o' love life together,

Frae the tie o' the shoe to the kembe.

Love beckons in ev'ry sweet motion,

Commanding due homage to gi'e;

But the shrine of my dearest devotion

Is the bend o' her bonnie e'e bree.

I fleech'd and I prayd the dear lassie

To gang to the brakens wi' me,

But though neither lordly nor saucy,

Her answer was, "Laith will I be.

Ah! is it nae cruel to press me

To that which wad breed my heart wae,

An' try to entice a poor lassie

The gate she's o'er ready to gae.

"I neither ha'e father nor mither,

Good counsel or caution to gi'e,

And prudence has whisper'd me never

To gang to the brakens wi' thee.