1793

    poortith cauld and restless love

    tune—“cauld kail in aberdeen.”

    o poortith cauld, and restless love,

    ye wrack my peace between ye;

    yet poortith a' i could forgive,

    an 'twere na for my jeanie.

    chorus—o why should fate sic pleasure have,

    life's dearest bands untwining?

    or why sae sweet a flower as love

    depend on fortune's shining?

    the warld's wealth, when i think on,

    it's pride and a' the lave o't;

    o fie on silly coward man,

    that he should be the slave o't!

    o why, &c.

    her e'en, sae bonie blue, betray

    how she repays my passion;

    but prudence is her o'erword aye,

    she talks o' rank and fashion.

    o why, &c.

    o wha can prudence think upon,

    and sic a lassie by him?

    o wha can prudence think upon,

    and sae in love as i am?

    o why, &c.

    how blest the simple cotter's fate!

    he woos his artless dearie;

    the silly bogles, wealth and state,

    can never make him eerie,

    o why, &c.