Sons of the Tyne's garland/Flower of the Forest the Old Way

by Alicia Cockburn

For other versions of this work, see The Flowers of the Forest (Cockburn).

FLOWER of the FOREST the Old Way.

I Have ſeen the ſmiling of Fortune beguiling,
I have felt all its Favours and found its Decay
Sweet is its Bleſſing, and kind its careſſing,
But now it is fled, fled, fled far away.

I have ſeen the Foreſt adorned the foremoſt,
With Flowers of the faireſt moſt pleaſant and gay,
So bonny their blooming their Scent the Air perfuming,
But now they are withered, and gone all away.

I've ſeen the morning with gold the hills adorning,
And loud Tempeſt ſtorming before middle day,
I have ſeen Tweed's ſilver Streams, ſhining in their ſunny Beams.
Grown drummy and dark, as he roll'd on his way.

O fickle Fortune, why thus cruel ſpoiling,
Why thus perplexing poor Sons in a Day?
No more thy Frowns can fear me,
No more thy Smiles can chear me,
Since the Flowers of the Foreſt are all wed away.