Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/99

Rh Quoth I, "My bird, my bonnie bonnie bird,

Is that a sang ye borrow,

Are these some words ye've learnt by heart,

Or a lilt o' dool an' sorrow?"

"Oh! no no no," the wee bird sang,

"I've flown sin' mornin' early,

But sic a day o' wind and rain—

Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!

"On hills that are, by right, his ain

He roves a lanely stranger,

On every side he's press'd by want,

On every side is danger;

Yestreen I met him in a glen,

My heart maist burstit fairly,

For sadly chang'd indeed was he—

Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!

"Dark night cam' on, the tempest roar'd

Loud o'er the hills an valleys,

An' whare was't that your Prince lay down

Whase hame should been a palace?

Ha row'd him in a Highland plaid,

Which cover'd him but sparely,

An' slept beneath a bush o' broom—

Oh! wae's me for Prince Charlie!"

But now the bird saw some red coats,

An' he sheuk his wings wi' anger,

"Oh! this is no a land for me,

I'll tarry here nae langer."

He hover'd on the wing a while

Ere he departed fairly,

But weel I mind the fareweel strain

Was, "Wae's me for Prince Charlie!"

[ to Joseph Train, Esq., by the author, .—Tune, "Guid night and joy be wi' you a'."—Here first printed.]