The Book of Scottish Song/The Highland Lassie
The Highland Lassie.
[This charmingly-natural effusion was written by Burns early in life, in honour of his afterwards-to-be-immortalized Highland Mary. It is given in the second volume of Johnson's Museum, adapted to an old reel tune, called "Maclauchlin's Scots Measure," but it may also be sung to the tune of "Green grow the rashes."—"My Highland Lassie," says the poet, "was a warm-hearted, charming young creature, as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a pretty long trial of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met by appointment, on the second Sunday of May, in a sequestered spot on the banks of Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell before she should embark for the West Highlands, to arrange matters among her friends for our projected change of life. At the close of the autumn following she crossed the sea to meet me at Greenock, where she had scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever, which hurried my dear girl to her grave in a few days, before I could even hear of her illness." Cromek adds a few particulars of the final interview of the youthful lovers. "This adieu was performed with all those simple and striking ceremonials, which rustic sentiment has devised to prolong tender emotions and to inspire awe. The lovers stood on each side of a small purling brook, they laved their hands in the limpid stream, and holding a Bible between them, they pronounced their vows to be faithful to each other. They parted, never to meet again." Cromek's account of this parting interview was considered somewhat apocryphal, till, a good many years ago, a pocket Bible, in two volumes, presented by Burns to Mary Campbell, was discovered in the possession of her sister at Ardrossan. This Bible afterwards found its way to Canada, whence the family had removed; and having excited the interest of some Scotsmen at Montreal, they purchased it, (for its possessors were unfortunately in reduced circumstances,) and had it conveyed back to Scotland, with the view of being permanently placed in the monument at Ayr. On its arrival at Glasgow, Mr. Weir, Stationer, Queen Street, (through the instrumentality of whose son, we believe, the precious relic was mainly procured,) kindly announced, that he would willingly show it for a few days at his shop to any person who might choose to see it. The result was, that thousands flocked to obtain a view of this interesting memorial, and the ladies, in particular, displayed an unwonted eagerness regarding it, some of them even crying, on beholding an object which appealed so largely to female sympathies. On the anniversary of the Poet in 1841, the Bible, inclosed in an oaken glass case, was permanently deposited among other relics in the monument at Ayr. On the boards of one of the volumes is inscribed, in Burns's hand-writing,—"'And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, I am the Lord,' Levit. chap. xix. v. 12;" and on the other, "'Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath,' St. Matt. chap. v. v. 33;" and on the blank leaves of both volumes, "Robert Burns, Mossgiel." A monument, the expense of which was defrayed by public subscription, is now erected over the grave of Highland Mary in Greenock churchyard. The foundation-stone of it was laid on the anniversary of the birth of the Poet, in 1842.]
Nae gentle dames, though e'er sae fair,
Shall ever be my muse's care;
Their titles a' are empty show;
Gi'e me my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen sae bushy, O,
Aboon the plain sae rushy, O,
I set me down wi' right good will,
To sing my Highland lassie, O.
Oh! were yon hills and valleys mine!
Yon palace and yon gardens fine!
The world then the love should know
I bear my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.
But fickle fortune frowns on me,
And I maun cross the raging sea:
But while my crimson currents flow,
I'll love my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.
Although through foreign climes I range,
I know her heart will never change,
For her bosom burns with honour's glow,
My faithful Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.
For her I'll dare the billows roar,
For her I'll trace a distant shore,
That Indian wealth may lustre throw,
Around my Highland lassie, O.
Within the glen, &c.
She has my heart, she has my hand,
By sacred truth and honour's band!
Till the mortal stroke shall lay me low,
I'm thine, my Highland lassie, O.
Farewell, the glen sae bushy, O!
Farewell, the plain sae rushy, O!
To other lands I now must go
To sing my Highland lassie, O!