Carolina, 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 rose-bud wash’d in simmer’s shower,

Bloom’d 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,

An’ 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 woo’d,

An’ truth and constancy had vow’d,

But could na speed wi’ her I lo’ed,

Until she saw fair Gowrie.

I pointed to my father’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, an’ hung her head;

But now she’s Leddy Gowrie.