Robert Burns: Poems E-Text | 1780

1780

Ronalds Of The Bennals, The

In Tarbolton, ye ken, there are proper young men,

And proper young lasses and a', man;

But ken ye the Ronalds that live in the Bennals,

They carry the gree frae them a', man.

Their father's laird, and weel he can spare't,

Braid money to tocher them a', man;

To proper young men, he'll clink in the hand

Gowd guineas a hunder or twa, man.

There's ane they ca' Jean, I'll warrant ye've seen

As bonie a lass or as braw, man;

But for sense and guid taste she'll vie wi' the best,

And a conduct that beautifies a', man.

The charms o' the min', the langer they shine,

The mair admiration they draw, man;

While peaches and cherries, and roses and lilies,

They fade and they wither awa, man,

If ye be for Miss Jean, tak this frae a frien',

A hint o' a rival or twa, man;

The Laird o' Blackbyre wad gang through the fire,

If that wad entice her awa, man.

The Laird o' Braehead has been on his speed,

For mair than a towmond or twa, man;

The Laird o' the Ford will straught on a board,

If he canna get her at a', man.

Then Anna comes in, the pride o' her kin,

The boast of our bachelors a', man:

Sae sonsy and sweet, sae fully complete,

She steals our affections awa, man.

If I should detail the pick and the wale

O' lasses that live here awa, man,

The fau't wad be mine if they didna shine

The sweetest and best o' them a', man.

I lo'e her mysel, but darena weel tell,

My poverty keeps me in awe, man;

For making o' rhymes, and working at times,

Does little or naething at a', man.

Yet I wadna choose to let her refuse,

Nor hae't in her power to say na, man:

For though I be poor, unnoticed, obscure,

My stomach's as proud as them a', man.

Though I canna ride in weel-booted pride,

And flee o'er the hills like a craw, man,

I can haud up my head wi' the best o' the breed,

Though fluttering ever so braw, man.

My coat and my vest, they are Scotch o' the best,

O'pairs o' guid breeks I hae twa, man;

And stockings and pumps to put on my stumps,

And ne'er a wrang steek in them a', man.

My sarks they are few, but five o' them new,

Twal' hundred, as white as the snaw, man,

A ten-shillings hat, a Holland cravat;

There are no mony poets sae braw, man.

I never had frien's weel stockit in means,

To leave me a hundred or twa, man;

Nae weel-tocher'd aunts, to wait on their drants,

And wish them in hell for it a', man.

I never was cannie for hoarding o' money,

Or claughtin't together at a', man;

I've little to spend, and naething to lend,

But deevil a shilling I awe, man.

Song—Here's To Thy Health

Tune—"Laggan Burn."

Here's to thy health, my bonie lass,

Gude nicht and joy be wi' thee;

I'll come nae mair to thy bower-door,

To tell thee that I lo'e thee.

O dinna think, my pretty pink,

But I can live without thee:

I vow and swear I dinna care,

How lang ye look about ye.

Thou'rt aye sae free informing me,

Thou hast nae mind to marry;

I'll be as free informing thee,

Nae time hae I to tarry:

I ken thy frien's try ilka means

Frae wedlock to delay thee;

Depending on some higher chance,

But fortune may betray thee.

I ken they scorn my low estate,

But that does never grieve me;

For I'm as free as any he;

Sma' siller will relieve me.

I'll count my health my greatest wealth,

Sae lang as I'll enjoy it;

I'll fear nae scant, I'll bode nae want,

As lang's I get employment.

But far off fowls hae feathers fair,

And, aye until ye try them,

Tho' they seem fair, still have a care;

They may prove waur than I am.

But at twal' at night, when the moon shines bright,

My dear, I'll come and see thee;

For the man that loves his mistress weel,

Nae travel makes him weary.

Lass Of Cessnock Banks, The^1

[Footnote 1: The lass is identified as Ellison Begbie, a servant

wench, daughter of a "Farmer Lang".]

A Song of Similes

Tune—"If he be a Butcher neat and trim."

On Cessnock banks a lassie dwells;

Could I describe her shape and mein;

Our lasses a' she far excels,