The Book of Scottish Song/As I cam' down

As I cam' down.

[Burns says that this song was very popular in Ayrshire. He sent a copy of the words and music to Johnson for insertion in his Museum.]

As I cam' doun by yon castle wa',
And in by yon garden green,
O there I spied a bonnie, bonnie lass,—
But the flower borders were us between.

A bonnie, bonnie lassie she was,
As ever mine eyes did see:
O five hundred pounds would I give,
For to have such a pretty bride as thee.

To have such a pretty bride as me,
Young man, ye are surely mista'en;
Though ye were king o' fair Scotland,
I wad disdain to be your queen.

Talk not so very high, bonnie lass,
O talk not so very, very high;
The man it the fair that wad sell,
He maun learn at the man that wad buy.

I trust to climb a far higher tree,
And harry a far richer nest:
Tak' this advice o' me, bonnie lass,
Humility wad set thee best.

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