Page:Young Gregor's ghost (NLS104184752).pdf/2

2 Young Gregor's Ghost.

PART I. all you young lovers in Scotland draw near,

Unto this sad story which now ye shall hear,

Concerning two lovers that liv'd in the North,

Among the high mountains that stand 'yond the Forth.

This maid was the daughter of a gentleman,

In the name of McFarlane and of the same clan;

But Gregor was born in a Highland Isle,

And by blood relation her consin we style.

But where riches is wanting, we oftentimes see

Few men are esteem'd for their pedigree,

His father was forc'd, when he was a child,

To leave this realm, for he was exil'd.

His lands they were forfeit I let you know,

Because of rebellion the truth for to shew;

Bread, gold, and vast riches, he with him did give.

For his education, and how he might live.

And solely he to the care of his freind,

Was left by his father to be maintain'd,

He learned him indeed for to read and to write,

In the rules of arithmetie he made him profite.

In Latin and French he taught him also,

That he thro' the world was fit for to go,

The king then recruiting, all hands did employ,

While her father as a servant did use this young boy.

In all kinds of drudgery he made him to serve,

And still so he kept him as a corps of reserve,

Such a beautiful young man was not in the place,

None could compare with him in stature and grace.

This charming Miss Katy was oft in the way;

One day, in love's passion, she to him did say,

My dear cousin Gregor, I've something to tell,

Which now from my bosom this day I'll reveal.