William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909.
The White Rose o JuneCarolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne (17661845)
N
Deck a’ the woods and the gardens wi’ flowers;
But bonnie and sweet though the hale o’ them be,
There’s ane abune a’ that is dearest to me;
And O, that’s the white rose, the white rose o’ June,
And may he that should wear it come back again sune!
That the emblem dear I venture to wear;
But it blooms in my heart, and its white leaves I weet,
When alane in the goamin’ I wander to greet,
O’er the white rose, the white rose, the white rose o’ June;
And may he that should wear it come back again sune!
But there is nae spell to bind it to me;
But dear to my heart and to fond memorie,
Though scathed and though blighted the white rose may be.
O the white rose, the white rose, the white rose o’ June,
O may he that should wear it come back again sune!
Remembered wi’ tears and remembered in prayer,
Whom misfortune’s rude blast has sent far awa’,
Fair breezes bring back sune to cottage and ha’;—
Then, O sing the white rose, the white rose o’ June,
And may he that should wear it wear Scotland’s auld croun!