Page 450

Robert Burns. (1759–1796) (continued)

4765

My heart ’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart ’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer. 1

My Heart ’s in the Highlands.

4766

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonny wee thing,
This sweet wee wife o’ mine.

My Wife ’s a Winsome Wee Thing.

4767

    The golden hours on angel wings
  Flew o’er me and my dearie;
For dear to me as light and life
  Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Highland Mary.

4768

But, oh! fell death’s untimely frost
That nipt my flower sae early.

Highland Mary.

4769

It ’s guid to be merry and wise, 2
It ’s guid to be honest and true,
It ’s guid to support Caledonia’s cause,
And bide by the buff and the blue.

Here ’s a Health to Them that ’s Awa’.

4770

Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory!
Now ’s the day and now ’s the hour;
See the front o’ battle lour.

Bannockburn.

4771

Liberty ’s in every blow!
Let us do or die. 3

Bannockburn.

4772

In durance vile 4 here must I wake and weep,
And all my frowsy couch in sorrow steep.

Epistle from Esopus to Maria.

Note 1.
These lines from an old song, entitled “The Strong Walls of Derry,” Burns made a basis for his own beautiful ditty. [back]

Note 2.
See Heywood, Quotation 6. [back]

Note 3.
See Fletcher, Quotation 6. [back]

Note 4.
Durance vile.—W. Kenrick (1766): Falstaff’s Wedding, act i. sc. 2. Edmund Burke: The Present Discontents. [back]

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