Mr. Allan Cunningham added the following stanza in his collection of Scottish Songs-it is most likely his own composition I made my gallant fiddle Of our repentance stool; The lasses went wild wi' laughing, And danc'd frae Paste to Yule- Has wagg'd to it wantonlie; Hogg has also written a song carrying on the same sentiment.] MONTGOMERY'S MISTRESS. ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY. O nature lavished on my love Each charm and winning grace It is a glad thing to sad eyes In which the lily springs; While she looks through her clustering hair I'd stand and look on my true love Like one grown to the ground;~ Her looks are like the May-day dawn She walks-the blushing brook-rose seems She sings-the lark that hearkens her For from her eyes there streams such light, Her vestal breast of ivorie, Shows with its twin-born swelling wreaths, Too pure to look upon; While through her skin her sapphire veins Seem violets dropt in milk, And tremble with her honey breath Like threads of finest silk; Her arms are long, her shoulders broad, The mold was lost that made my love, [This is a very free and very beautiful modernization, if I may use such a word, of a song robed in the garb of antiquity, by Allan Cunningham. Specimens of Montgomery's own songs will be found in the Preface to this volume. See Laing's Edition of Montgomery's Poems, p. 208.1 MONTGOMERY'S MATCHLESS MARGARET. ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY. Ye lovers leal forbear to style And they maun hope to shine nae mair. The brightest e'er in crowns was set, Her better nature far excels Her noble birth and royal blood; Of native gifts and graces good- Mair sweet than roses newly wet And wander'd till my locks were wet My loved, my matchless Margaret. [A modernized version by Allan Cunningham. For the original words see Laing's Edition of Montgomery's Poems, p. 161.] WHILE WITH HER WHITE AND NIMBLE HANDS. ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY. While with her white and nimble hands Of lilies white, and violets, Thou sun, now shining bright above, Hast felt, as poets feign: If thou her fairness will not burn And close her sparkling eyes;— A brightness far surpassing thine, [Modernized by Allan Cunningham.] ARMSTRONG'S GOOD NIGHT. This night is my departing night, What I have done thro' lack of wit, I hope ye're a' my friends as yet; Goodnight, and joy be with you all. ["These verses are said to have been composed by one of the Armstrongs, executed for the murder of Sir John Carmichael of Edrom, Warden of the Middle Marches."-SCOTT. "The music of the most accomplished singer is dissonance to what I felt when an old dairy-maid sung me into tears with Johnie Armstrong's Last Goodnight."-GOLDSMITH. The above is printed from Sir Walter Scott's copy-there are many variations in lines and many fabrications of verses in different Ballad Books totally unworthy of being here inserted.] I'LL NEVER LOVE THEE MORE. JAMES GRAHAME, MARQUIS OF MONTROSE. Born 1612-Hanged 1650. My dear and only love, I pray That little world of thee Be govern'd by no other sway, But purest monarchy; |