Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/501

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[ tune called "The Happy Clown" is old. Gay adopts it for one of his songs in the "Beggar's Opera," beginning,

"I'm like a skiff in the ocean toss'd."

The following fine verses appear in the second volume of the Tea-Table Miscellany. Ramsay, in his "Gentle Shepherd" puts a few verses into the mouth of Sir William Worthy, to the tune of "The Happy Clown."]

happy is the rural clown,

Who, far remov'd from noise of town,

Contemns the glory of a crown,

And, in his safe retreat,

Is pleased with his low degree,

Is rich in decent poverty,

From strife, from care, and business free,

At once both good and great!

No drums disturb his morning sleep,

He fears no danger of the deep,

Nor noisy law, nor courts e'er heap

Vexation on his mind;

No trumpets rouse him to the war,

No hopes can bribe, nor threats can dare;

From state intrigues he holds afar,

And liveth unconfin'd.

Like those in golden ages born,

He labours gently to adorn

His small paternal fields of corn,

And on their product feeds;

Each season of the wheeling year,

Industrious he improves with care,

And still some ripen'd fruits appear,

So well his toil succeeds.

Now by a silver stream he lies,

And angles with his baits and flies,

And next the sylvan scene he tries,

His spirits to regale;

Now from the rock or height he views

His fleecy flock, or teeming cows;

Then tunes his reed, or tries his muse,

That waits his honest call.

Amidst his harmless easy joys,

No care his peace of mind destroys,

Nor does he pass his time in toys

Beneath his just regard:

He's fond to feel the zephyrs breeze,

To plant and sned his tender trees;

And for attending well his bees,

Enjoys their sweet reward.

The flow'ry meads and silent coves,

The scenes of faithful rural loves,

And warbling birds on blooming groves,

Afford a wish'd delight;

But O, how pleasant is his life!

Blest with a chaste and virtuous wife,

And children prattling, void of strife,

Around his fire at night!

[ first and last stanzas of this popular song were written by W., Glasgow, and set to music by Richard Webster. The second stanza is an interpolation by William Thom of Inverury.]

whar was ye sae late yestreen,

My bonnie Jeannie Gray?

Your mither miss'd you late at e'en,

And eke at break o' day.

Your mither look'd sae sour and sad,

Your father dull and wae,

Oh! whar was ye sae late yestreen,

My bonnie Jeannie Gray?

I've mark'd that lanely look o' thine,

My bonnie Jeannie Gray;

I've kent your kindly bosom pine,

This monie, monie day.

Ha'e hinnied words o' promise lur'd

Your guileless heart astray?

O! dinna hide your grief frae me,

My bonnie Jeannie Gray.

Dear sister, sit ye down by me,

And let nae body ken;

For I ha'e promis'd late yestreen

To wed young Jamie Glen;

The melting tear stood in his e'e,

What heart could say him nay?

As aft he vow'd, through life, I'm thine,

My bonnie Jeannie Gray.