I loved the Lasses dearly When I wad'nt but a boy
They seemed angels all or nearly And everlasting joy
When I sat among the rushes By the path where maidens came
Their gowns brushed by the white thorn bushes And set my heart on flame.

Their eyes looked bright and warm When warmly gleamed the weather
And each one left me such a charm I'd kissed them altogether
I sat me down where green the grass is In sunshine and the blast
And there I dearly loved the lasses Aye every one that past.

And when I saw the valley flower Shook by bees flying near 'em

1

Smile again my lovely Lasses
Lovely lasses smile again
Loves joy all grief surpasses
And care may sigh in vain
There's the hill beside the barn
There's the knoll upon the bank
Where lovers true may meet and join
Lovely lasses smile again

2

Pools they gather on the plain
And tell of seasons dreary
Lovely lasses smile again
Then care will soon be weary
Green hills may shine in white
And clouds obscure the plain
Home's fire side will then delight
If lovely lasses smile again

1

The wild hedge-rose it blooms so fair
Upon the stem so briery
And grows the very likeness there
Of her I call my deary
The self same bloom is in her face
As that within the blossom
Its eye of gold, like pin of grace
Is that upon her bosom.

2

The wild hedge rose how sweet it smells
Upon the evening tree
Will Jane now seek the heather dells
And crop the flower with me
Its blush is on her lovely cheek
Its gold eye on her breast
'Tis eaten in an apple streak
And on loves bosom press't —

3

My bonny Sue if love be true As I suppose you be
Thy smiling face that blushes grace Is doubly dear to me
If love in part be all the heart Thou'lt be an angel here
Body and soul's in thy controll Thou'rt more than doubly dear.

In joy and themes than life and all Thou'rt more my lovely Sue
My heart is thine in love divine Be thine or false or true
Th[r]ough blight and bane I come again To love thee as my own
In smiles and tears days Months and Years Thou'rt mine and mine alone.

My bonny Sue in love be true For I'm all truth to thee

When in summer thou walkest
In the meads by the river
& to thyself talkest
Dost thou think of me ever
A lost & a lorn one
That adores thee & loves thee
& when happy morn's gone
& natures calm moves thee
Leaving thee to thy sleep like an angel at rest
Does the man who adored thee still live in thy breast

Does nature e'er give thee
Loves past happy visions
& wrap thee & leave thee
In fancys elesian[s]
Thy beauty I clung too
As leaves to the tree
When thou fair & young too

The upward look and ever anxious eye
Sees love and pleasure in the cool grey sky
And every comfort waiting when we die.

1

Love is life's spring, — the summer of the soul, —
The Eden of earth's happiness, — the spring
Of all on earth that's lovely! — no control
Can hinder its conception: — 'tis the wing
That bears the turtle to its nest in spring; —
It is the mainspring that conducts the whole, —
The eternal anthem which all nature sings,
And woman is of man the life and soul,
As long as earth exists or planets roll! —

2

She alone knew, of victors first and best,
To fold the vanquished to her pardoning breast:
To gather 'neath her wings, in one great brood,
The tribes of Man, by might, then love, subdued,
Mother, not Queen, calling those sons by birth
Whom she had conquered — linking ends of Earth.

Of all the maids in scottish land Or lands ayont the sea
Had I the world at my command The world to her I'd gie
I think upon her all the night And all the summers day
My anxious days my whole delight Is lovely Alice Grey

The linnet in the awthorn shade Sings music all the day
And a conspire to cheer the maid Wi' waters roundelay
I play the tunes to please myself And love her while I play
And think she likes my songs as well The lovely Alice Grey

She's fairer than the mountain flowers More bright than peep o' day

And will you ever love me dearest Yes by the heavens above thee
By soul breathed sighs and love sincerest I will for ever love thee
Love words will burn before they're spoken Heart thoughts no tongue can tell
The heart will bleed before its broken And I love Hellen well

As o'er the pebbles flows the water Gilt by the glittering beam
I love thee as earths fairest daughter In many a happy dream
I saw thee in each rushy hollow When rushes arched in dew
And then pursued thee like a swallow Far under heavens blue