The Book of Scottish Song/The Three Lasses

The Three Lasses.

[William Holmes.—Here first printed.]

My heart, alack! is sair opprest
For love o' lasses three;
I kenna whilk o' them to choose,
They're a' sae dear to me.

Young Peggy has a takin' gate,
She's nimble as the fawn;
An' likes to play a merry prank,
While skipping o'er the lawn.

To see her dancin' gowden locks,
My heart loups licht wi' glee;
An' when I pree her rosy lips,
Care flees awa' frae me.

Wi' eager look upon a book,
You'll aft see lady Ann,
Wi' jetty locks, an' lily neck
Bent like a stately swan;

Amang the tales of olden time
She's sic a learned quean,
Ye maun tak' tent ere ye begin
To crack wi' her at e'en.

And there is gentle Madeline,
Wi' een o' lovin' blue,
To hear her sing an auld Scotch sang
You'd bless her earnest mou'.

Aye when I gang frae Madeline,
Nae body by to tell,
The winsome sangs she sings to me
I whistle to mysel'.

Noo, can ye guess me whilk o' them
My wifie's like to be?—
In troth, I kenna weel mysel'—
They're a' sae dear to me!

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