Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/321

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[ is the title of a very old air, which is to be found in our oldest musical collections. The original words to the tune are probably lost. The old chorus, however, is retained in the following beautifully-natural song, which was first printed in Herd's collection, 1776. Burns characterizes the chorus as "truly pathetic."

The version here given of the present song differs somewhat, but chiefly in verbal points, from that given by Herd.]

[ was an old nursery song, the words of which ran somewhat thus:

The tune to which this was sung was one of great beauty and simplicity, although its simplicity has been somewhat injured by modern changes. wrote the following words to the tune, but mistook himself greatly, we think, when he endeavoured to weave the words of a nurse's lullaby into an impassioned lover's address.]

O, thy looks ha'e kill'd my heart,

I pass the day in pain;

When night returns, I feel the smart,

And wish for thee in vain.

I'm starving cold, while thou art warm;

Have pity and incline,

And grant me for a hap that charm-

ing petticoat of thine.

My ravish'd fancy in amaze

Still wanders o'er thy charms,

Delusive dreams ten thousand ways

Present thee to my arms.

But waking, think what I endure,

While cruel thou decline

Those pleasures, which alone can cure

This panting breast of mine.

I faint, I fail, and wildly rove,

Because you still deny

The just reward that's due to love,

And let true passion die.

Oh! turn, and let compassion seize

That lovely breast of thine;

Thy petticoat could give me ease,

If thou and it were mine.