The Book of Scottish Song/Here is the glen

Here is the glen.

[In a letter to Thomson, Burns says, "I got air, pretty enough, composed by Lady Elizabeth Heron of Heron, which she calls 'The banks of Cree.' Cree is a beautiful romantic stream; and as her Ladyship is a particular friend of mine, I have written the following song to it."]

Here is the glen, and here the bower,
All underneath the birchen shade;
The village bell has told the hour,—
O what can stay my lovely maid?

'Tis not Maria's whispering call;
'Tis but the balmy-breathing gale,
Mix'd with some warbler's dying fall,
The dewy star of eve to hail.

It is Maria's voice I hear!
So calls the woodlark in the grove,
His little faithful mate to cheer,
At once 'tis music—and 'tis love.

And art thou come! and art thou true!
O welcome dear to love and me!
And let us all our vows renew,
Along the flowery banks of Cree.

---