[Tea-Table Miscellany Contents]
AS I came in by Tiviot-side,
And by the braes of Branksome,
There first I saw my bonny bride,
Young, smiling, sweet and handsom;
Her skin was safter than the down,
And white as alabastar;
Her hair a shining wavy brown;
In straightness nane surpast her.
–
Life glow’d upon her lip and cheek,
Her clear een were surprising,
And beautifully turn’d her neck,
Her little breasts just rising:
Nae silken hose with gooshets fine,
Or shoon with glancing laces,
On her fair leg, forbad to shine,
Well shapen native graces.
–
Ae little coat, and bodice white,
Was sum of a’ her claithing;
Even these o’er mickle; – mair delyte
She’d given cled wi naithing:
She lean’d upon a flowry brae,
By which a burny trotted;
On her I glowr’d my saul away,
While on her sweets I doated.
–
A thousand beauties of desert,
Before had scarce alarm’d me.
‘Till this dear artless struck my heart,
And bot designing, charm’d me.
Hurry’d by love close to my breast,
I grasp’d this fund of blishes;
Wha smil’d, and said, without a priest,
Sir, hope for nought but kisses.
–
I had nae heart to do her harm,
And yet I coudna want her;
What she demanded, ilka charm
Of her’s pled, I should grant her.
Since heaven had dealt to me a routh,
Straight to the kirk I led her,
There plighted her my faith and trowth,
And a young lady made her.
