Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766–1845)

’TWAS on a simmer’s afternoon,

A wee afore the sun gaed doun,

A lassie wi’ a braw new goun

Cam’ owre the hills to Gowrie.

The rosebud washed in simmer’s shower

Bloomed fresh within the sunny bower;

But Kitty was the fairest flower

That e’er was seen in Gowrie.

To see her cousin she cam’ there;

And oh! the scene was passing fair,

For what in Scotland can compare

Wi’ the Carse o’ Gowrie?

The sun was setting on the Tay,

The blue hills melting into grey,

The mavis and the blackbird’s lay

Were sweetly heard in Gowrie.

O lang the lassie I had wooed,

And truth and constancy had vowed,

But could nae speed wi’ her I lo’ed

Until she saw fair Gowrie.

I pointed to my faither’s ha’—

Yon bonnie bield ayont the shaw,

Sae loun that there nae blast could blaw:—

Wad she no bide in Gowrie?

Her faither was baith glad and wae;

Her mither she wad naething say;

The bairnies thocht they wad get play

If Kitty gaed to Gowrie.

She whiles did smile, she whiles did greet;

The blush and tear were on her cheek;

She naething said, and hung her head;—

But now she’s Leddy Gowrie.