D

Betticoat wooing.

I.

Ear Colin, prevent my warm blushes,
How can I speak without pain?
My eyes have oft told you their wishes :
Why can't you the meaning explain ?

II.

My paffion wou'd lose by expreffion,
And you too might cruelly blame
Then pray don't expect a confeffion
Of what is too tender to name.

III.

Since yours is the province of speaking,
How can you expect it from me?
Our wishes fhou'd be in our keeping,
Till you tell us what they fhou'd be.
IV.

Then quickly why don't you discover?
Did your heart feel fuch tortures as mine?
I need not tell over and cer
What I in my bofom confine.

G

COLIN'S Reply.

I.

Ood Madam, when ladies are willing,
A man must needs look like a fool;
For me, I would not give a fhilling
For one that does love without rule.

II.

At least ye fhou'd wait for our offers,

Nor fnatch like old maids in defpair;
Had you liv'd to these years without proffers,
Your fighs were all spent in the air.

III.

You shou'd leave us to guefs by your blushing,

And not tell the matter fo plain;

"Tis ours to be writing and pufhing,

And yours to affect a disdain.

L13

Bur

VII.

There rofe and lily, the hale fpring,
Unto her breath for fweetness speed;
The diamond darkness in the ring

When the appears, the moon looks dead,"
As when Sol lifts his radiant head.

T

There Gowans are gay...

ན.

Here gowans are gay, my joy,
There gowans are gay;

They gar me wake when I fhou'd sleep,
The first morning of May.

II.

About the fields as I did pafs,
There gowans are gay ;*
I chanc'd to meet a proper lafs,
The first morning of May.
III.

Right bufy was that bonny maid,

There gowans are gay;

I hafs'd her, fyne to her I faid,
The first morning of May:

IV.

O lady fair, what do you here?

There gowans are gay;

Gathering the dew, what need ye fpeir 5

The first morning of May.

V

The dew, quoth I, what can that mean

There gowans are gay ;

Quoth fhe, to wash my miftrefs clean,
The firft morning of May,

The little birds they fang full fweet,

There gowans are gay;

Unto my comfort was right meet,
The first morning of May.

XI.

And thereabout I paft my time,
There gowans are gay;

Until it was the hour of prime,
The first morning of May;

XII.

And then returned hame bedeen,

There gowans are gay:

Panfand what maiden that had been,
The firft morning of May,

I

Slighted Love fair to bide.

Had a heart, but now I heartless gae ; I had a mind, but daily was oppreft; I had a friend that's now become my fae ; I had a will that now has freedom loft:

Wha

What have I now?
Naething I trow,

But grief where I had joy
What am I than ?

A heartless man :

Could love me thus deftroy!

I love, I ferve ane whom I much regard,
Yet for my love disdain is my. reward.

Where fhall I

II...

to hide

face?

gang my weary Where fhall I find a place for my defence? Where my true love remains the fitteft place, Of all the earth that is

my confidence.

Let her do what fhe lift,

I cannot mend,

But still depend,

And daily to infift,

To purchase love, if love my love deferve;
If not for love, let love my body ftarve.

III.

O lady fair! whom I do honour most,

Your name and fame within my breast I have; Let not my love and labour thus be loft,

But still in mind I pray. thee to engrave,

That I am true,

And fall not rue

Ane word that I have faid.

I am your man,

Do what you can,

When all these plays are plaid.

Then fave your fhip unbroken on the fand,

Since man and goods are all at your command.

The

VII.

She faid, her errand was not there,

Where gowans are gay;
Her maidenhead on me to ware,
The first morning of May.

VIII

Then, like an arrow frae a bow,

There gowans are gay ;

She skift away out o'er the know,
The firft morning of May;

IX.

And left me in the garth my lane,

There gowans are gay;
And in my heart a twang of pain,
The first morning of May.

X.

The little birds they fang full fweet,

There gowans are gay;

Unto my comfort was right meet,
The first morning of May.

XI.

And thereabout I paft my time,

There gowans are gay;

Until it was the hour of prime,
The first morning of May;

XII.

And then returned hame bedeen,

There gowans are gay:

Panfand what maiden that had been,
The firft morning of May,

I

Slighted Love fair to bide.

Had a heart, but now I heartless gae ;
I had a mind, but daily was oppreft;
I had a friend that's now become my fae
I had a will that now has freedom loft.

What