Queen Mary's lamentation (1824)/Bonny Leslie

by Robert Burns

For other versions of this work, see Bonnie Lesley.

BONNY LESLEY

O saw ye bonny Lesley
As she gaed o'er the border?
Sha's gane like Alexander,
To spread her conquests farther

To ace her is to love her,
And love her but for ever;
For Nature made her what she is,
And ne'er made sic anither.

Thou art a fair queen fair Lesley,
Thy subjects we, before thee;
Thou Art divine fair Lesley,
The hearts of men adore thee.

The deil he could na scaith thee,
Or aught that wad belang thee;
He'd look into thy bonny face
And say, "I canna wrang thee."

The Powers aboon will tent thee;
Misfortunes sha'na steer thee;
Thou'rt like themselves, sae lovely,
That ill they'll ne'er let near thee.

Return again fair Lesley,
Return to Caledonie!
That we may brag we hae a lass,
There's nane again sae bonnie.