17
"Let Yarrow Folk, frae Selkirk Town,
"Who have been buying, selling,
"Go back to Yarrow, 'tis their own,
"Each Maiden to her Dwelling!
"On Yarrow's Banks let herons feed,
"Hares couch, and rabbits burrow!
"But we will downwards with the Tweed,
"Nor turn aside to Yarrow.
"There's Galla Water, Leader Haughs,
"Both lying right before us;
"And Dryborough, where with chiming Tweed
"The Lintwhites sing in chorus;
"There's pleasant Tiviot-dale, a land
"Made blithe with plough and harrow:
"Why throw away a needful day
"To go in search of Yarrow?
"What's Yarrow but a River bare
"That glides the dark hills under?
"There are a thousand such elsewhere
"As worthy of your wonder."
—Strange words they seemed of slight and scorn;
My True-love sighed for sorrow;
And looked me in the face, to think
I thus could speak of Yarrow!
