The Book of Scottish Song/Courtship
Courtship.
[Francis Bennoch.]
Yestre'en, on Cample's bonnie flood,
The summer moon was shining;
While, on a bank in Crichope wood,
Two fond hearts were reclining:
They spak' o' youth an' hoary age,
O' time, how swiftly fleeting;
Of ilka thing, in sooth, but ane,—
The reason of their meeting!
When Willie thocht his heart was firm,
An' micht declare its feeling,
A glance frae Bessie's starry een
Sent a' his senses reeling;
For aye when he essay'd to speak,
An' she prepared to hear him,
The thochts in crimson dyed his cheek,
An' words would no' come near him!
But nature, gentle mither, came
In pity to assist him;
She whisper'd what he ought to do—
'Twas her advice that bless'd him!
He flung his arm around her neck,
Nor did the maid resent it;
Syne kiss'd her ripe and rosy lip—
A deed he ne'er repented.
'Tis ever thus that love is taught
By his divinest teacher;
He silent adoration seeks,
But shuns the prosy preacher.
Now read me right, ye gentle anes,
Nor deem my lesson hollow:
The deepest river silent rins,
The babbling brook is shallow.