Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

6 . The Tarbolton Lasses

IF ye gae up to yon hill-tap,

Ye’ll there see bonie Peggy;

She kens her father is a laird,

And she forsooth’s a leddy.

There Sophy tight, a lassie bright,

Besides a handsome fortune:

Wha canna win her in a night,

Has little art in courtin’.

Gae down by Faile, and taste the ale,

And tak a look o’ Mysie;

She’s dour and din, a deil within,

But aiblins she may please ye.

If she be shy, her sister try,

Ye’ll maybe fancy Jenny;

If ye’ll dispense wi’ want o’ sense—

She kens hersel she’s bonie.

As ye gae up by yon hillside,

Speir in for bonie Bessy;

She’ll gie ye a beck, and bid ye light,

And handsomely address ye.

There’s few sae bonie, nane sae guid,

In a’ King George’ dominion;

If ye should doubt the truth o’ this—

It’s Bessy’s ain opinion!