The Book of Scottish Song/Adieu for a while

Adieu for a while.

[This appears in the second vol. of the Tea Table Miscellany, to the tune of "I'll gar ye be fain to follow me."]

He.

Adieu, for a while, my native green plains,
My nearest relations, my neighbouring swains;
Dear Nelly, frae those I'd start easily free,
Were minutes not ages, while absent frae thee.

She.

Then tell me the reason, thou dost not obey
The pleadings of love, but thus hurry away?
Alake! thou deceiver, o'er plainly I see,
A lover sae roving will never mind me.

He.

The reason unhappy is owing to fate,
That gave me a being without an estate,
Which lays a necessity now upon me,
To purchase a fortune for pleasure to thee.

She.

Small fortune may serve where love has the sway,
Then Johnny be counsel'd na langer to stray,
For while thou proves constant in kindness to me,
Contented I'll aye find a treasure in thee.

He.

O cease, my dear charmer, else soon I'll betray
A weakness unmanly, and quickly give way
To fondness, which may prove a ruin to thee,
A pain to us baith, and dishonour to me.

Bear witness, ye streams, and witness, ye flowers,
Hear witness, ye watchful invisible powers,
If ever my heart be unfaithful to thee,
May naething propitious e'er smile upon me.

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