Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/255

Rh 'Tis true thy charms, O powerful maid,

To life can bring the silent shade:

Thou canst surpass the painter's art,

And real warmth and flames impart.

But oh! it ne'er can love like me,

I've ever lov'd, and lov'd but thee:

Then, charmer, grant my fond request,

Say thou canst love, and make me blest.

[ popular tune of "Cauld Kail in Aberdeen" is not very old—at least it cannot be traced in any of the older musical collections. The following are the earliest words to the tune, and are given in Herd's Collection of 1776. Perhaps the reader may detect in them the meaning of the now proverbial phrase, "Cauld kail in Aberdeen, and custocks in Strathbogie."

The "Bogie," here and elsewhere celebrated, is a stream in Aberdeenshire, which runs through the beautiful strath or valley called Strathbogie. It is not known who was the author of the following convivial song, but it is alluded to by Burns as an old song.]

[ counter strain to the convivial song of the same name was written by Alexander fourth (born in 1743; died in 1827,) and inserted in the second volume of Johnson's Museum.]

cauld kail in Aberdeen,

And custocks in Stra'bogie,

Gin I ha'e but a bonnie lass,

Ye're welcome to your cogie.

And ye may sit up a' the night,

And drink till it be braid day-light:

Gi'e me a lass baith clean and tight,

To dance the reel o' Bogie.