Bonny lass/Bonny lass

THE BONNY LASSIE.

Ance I lo'ed a bonny lassie,
⁠lang I thought she'd be my ain;
Sometimes she was wond'rous saucy,
⁠sometimes she was wond'rous fain;
She was fair, but unco fickle,
⁠mair than ony e'er I saw;
Ilka rose it has a prickle,
⁠but my Jenny she had twa.

She was charmin', gay and handsome,
⁠(illegible text) like Burn's lovely Jean;
When she smil'd, 'twas heav'n to Johnny
⁠but by smiles the heart's ne'er seen.
A hundred times she said she lo'ed me,
⁠silly I believ'd it a';
Ilka rose it has a prickle,
⁠but sause Jenny she had twa.

Thro' the bloomin' birks we've wander'd
⁠never thought the time o'er lang;
Where the burnie rows we've daunder'd
⁠listnin' to the birdies' sang,
Wha wou'd thought, in her fair bosom
⁠Sic a marble heart cou'd be?
Wha wou'd thought the love o' siller
⁠parted this sweet lass and me?

Jenny's rich auld aunty, Maggy,
⁠died, and made but little din,
Left her gowd and blankets plenty,
⁠kists o' claise, and lint to spin.
Frae the moment Jenny got a',
⁠Johnny nae mair fill'd e'e;
Scoury lairds, and trash o' farmers
⁠pleas'd her then instead o' me.

Lang my leal heart fair was wounded,
⁠love's first marks are printed deep;
Wi' slighted love, and lasses' scornin',
⁠night nor day, could get nae sleep.
I curs'd the gowd, that root o' evil,
⁠that had sic charms to change the mind;
I cursed a' deceivin' women,
⁠I curs'd mysel' for being sae blind.

But time, the king of cures for a'thing,
⁠wore the glammer frae my een,
Then I had power to look about me,
⁠and soon I fix'd on bonny Jean!
I follow'd her to kirk and market,
⁠('mang the maids she bare the grec,)
Spake o' love—then in a jiffy,
⁠gae consent to married be.

Keen was I to hae her courted,
⁠keen was I to get her wed,
Keen to hae the bridal over,
⁠but keener far to win ta bed.
Jenny now may gang and whistle,
⁠Johnny's happy morn and e'en!
Constant love and steady virtue
⁠adorn the heart o' bonny Jean.