THE LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE. The scenery of this song was taken from real life. Burns had roved out as chance directed, in the favourite haunts of his Muse, on the banks of the Ayr, to view nature in all the gaiety of the vernal year. In a corner of his prospect he spied one of the loveliest creatures that ever crowned a poetical landscape, or met a poet's eye. On his return home he composed the following verses in honour of her charms. Tune.-Miss Forbes's Farewell to Banff. 'Twas even-the dewy fields were green, All nature listening seem'd the while, A maiden fair I chanced to spy; That ever rose in Scotland's plain! Thro' weary winter's wind and rain The bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle. Then pride might climb the slipp'ry steep, To tend the flocks or till the soil, With the bonnie lass o' Ballochmyle. THE BRAES O' BALLOCHMYLE. This song was written on the occasion of Sir John Whitefoord leaving Ballochmyle. The Maria mentioned in the first stanza was the eldest daughter of that gentleman. Tune.-Miss Forbes's Farewell to Banff. Hersel in beauty's bloom the while, Low in your wintry beds, ye flowers, Shall birdie charm, or flow'ret smile; Fareweel, fareweel, sweet Ballochmyle! BONNIE LESLIE. This song was composed on a charming Ayrshire girl, as she passed through Dumfries to England. Tune. The collier's bonnie dochter. O SAW ye bonnie Leslie As she gaed o'er the border? To spread her conquests farther. To see her is to love her, And love but her for ever; Thou art a queen, fair Leslie, The hearts o' men adore thee. The Deil he could na scaitha thee, Or aught that wad belang thee; Return to Caledonia! That we may brag, we hae a lass ON A BANK OF FLOWERS, &c Written for the Museum' to the beautiful old melody The lady of the flowery field,' included in Ritson's Desiderata in Scottish Song,' since published in the Scots Magazine for Jan. 1802. On a bank of flowers, in a summer day, For summer lightly drest, a Injure. b Above. c Tend, guard. J Molest The youthful, blooming Nelly lay, When Willie, wand'ring through the wood He gaz'd, he wish'd, he fear'd, he blush'd, Her closed eyes, like weapons sheath'd, The springing lilies sweetly prest, He gaz'd, he wish'd, he fear'd, he blush'd, Her robes, light waving in the breeze, Tumultuous tides his pulses roll, A faltering, ardent kiss he stole ; As flies the partridge from the brake, So Nelly, starting, half awake, But Willie follow'd-as he should, He overtook her in the wood: He vow'd, he pray'd, he found the maid Forgiving all and good. THE BANKS OF CREE. The air of this song was composed by Lady Elizabeth Heron, of So calls the wood-lark in the grove, At once 'tis music-and 'tis love! Along the flow'ry banks of Cree. YOUNG PEGGY. This is one of the Poet's earliest compositions. It is copied from a MS. book which he had before his first publication.-Cromek. Tune.-The last time I came owre the moor. YOUNG Peggy blooms our bonniest lass, The rosy dawn, the springing grass, |