Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
12 . SongThe Lass of Cessnock Banks
O
Could I describe her shape and mein;
Our lasses a’ she far excels,
An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een.
When rising Phœbus first is seen, And dew-drops twinkle o’er the lawn; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. That grows the cowslip braes between, And drinks the stream with vigour fresh; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. With flow’rs so white and leaves so green, When purest in the dewy morn; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. When ev’ning Phœbus shines serene, While birds rejoice on every spray; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. That climbs the mountain-sides at e’en, When flow’r-reviving rains are past; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. When gleaming sunbeams intervene And gild the distant mountain’s brow; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. The pride of all the flowery scene, Just opening on its thorny stem; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. When pale the morning rises keen, While hid the murm’ring streamlets flow; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. That sunny walls from Boreas screen; They tempt the taste and charm the sight; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. With fleeces newly washen clean, That slowly mount the rising steep; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. That gently stirs the blossom’d bean, When Phœbus sinks behind the seas; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. That sings on Cessnock banks unseen, While his mate sits nestling in the bush; An’ she has twa sparkling roguish een. Tho’ matching beauty’s fabled queen; ’Tis the mind that shines in ev’ry grace, An’ chiefly in her roguish een.