PoemsandSongsofRobertBurnsTheLassO'Ballochmyle

thelasso'ballochmyle

tune—“ettrickbanks.”

'twaseven—thedewyfieldsweregreen,

oneverybladethepearlshang;

thezephyrwanton'droundthebean,

andboreitsfragrantsweetsalang:

inev'ryglenthemavissang,

allnaturelist'ningseem'dthewhile,

exceptwheregreenwoodechoesrang,

amangthebraeso'ballochmyle.

withcarelessstepionwardstray'd,

myheartrejoic'dinnature'sjoy,

when,musinginalonelyglade,

amaidenfairichanc'dtospy:

herlookwaslikethemorning'seye,

herairlikenature'svernalsmile:

perfectionwhisper'd,passingby,

“beholdthelasso'ballochmyle!”

fairisthemorninflowerymay,

andsweetisnightinautumnmild;

whenrovingthro'thegardengay,

orwand'ringinthelonelywild:

butwoman,nature'sdarlingchild!

thereallhercharmsshedoescompile;

eventhereherotherworksarefoil'd

bythebonielasso'ballochmyle.

o,hadshebeenacountrymaid,

andithehappycountryswain,

tho'shelter'dinthelowestshed

thateverroseonscotland'splain!

thro'wearywinter'swindandrain,

withjoy,withrapture,iwouldtoil;

andnightlytomybosomstrain

thebonielasso'ballochmyle.

thenpridemightclimbtheslipp'rysteep,

whereframeandhonoursloftyshine;

andthirstofgoldmighttemptthedeep,

ordownwardseektheindianmine:

givemethecotbelowthepine,

totendtheflocksortillthesoil;

andev'rydayhavejoysdivine

withthebonielasso'ballochmyle.