And with my Sister Nymphs I sport,
Till the broad sun looks o'er the floods;
Then, swift we seek our Crystal Court
Deep in the wave, 'mid NEPTUNE'S woods.
In cool arcades and glassy halls,
We pass the sultry hours of noon, Beyond wherever sunbeam falls;
Weaving sea-flowers in gay festoon.
The while, we chant our Ditties sweet,
To some soft shell, that warbles near;
Joined by the murmuring currents fleet,
That glide along our halls so clear.
There, the pale pearl and sapphire blue,
And ruby red and em'rald green,
Dart from the domes a changing hue;
And sparry columns deck the scene.
When the dark storm scowls o'er the deep,
And long, long, peals of thunder sound;
On some high cliff, my watch I keep
O'er all the restless seas around,
Till, on the ridgy wave, afar,
Comes the lone vessel, labouring slow, Spreading the white foam in the air, With sail and topmast bending low:
Then plunge I, 'mid the ocean's roar,
My way by quiv'ring lightnings shown,
To guide the bark to peaceful shore;
And hush the sailor's fearful groan.
And if too late I reach its side,
To save it from the 'whelming surge;
I call my dolphins o'er the tide,
To bear the crew where isles emerge!
How sweet is Love's first gentle sway,
When, crowned with flowers, he softly smiles!
His blue eyes fraught with tearful wiles,
Where beams of tender transport play!
HOPE leads him on his airy way,
And FAITH and FANCY still beguiles:
FAITH quickly tangled in her toils;
FANCY! whose magic forms so gay
The fair Deceiver's self deceive.
How sweet is Love's first gentle sway!
Ne'er would that heart he bids to grieve,
From SORROW's soft enchantments stray!
Ne'er! till the God, exulting in his art,
Relentless frowns, and wings th' envenomed dart!
I'm wearin' awa', JOHN!
Like snaw-wreaths in thaw, JOHN!
I'm wearin' awa'
To the land o' the leal!
There's nae sorrow there, JOHN! There's neither cauld nor care, JOHN! The day is aye fair
In the land o' the leal!
Our bonnie bairn 's there, JOHN!
She was baith gude and fair, JOHN!
And, oh! we grudg'd her sair
To the land o' the leal!
But sorrow's sel' wears past, JOHN!
And joy 's a-comin' fast, JOHN!
The joy that 's aye to last
In the land o' the leal!
Sae dear that joy was bought, JOHN! Sae free the battle fought, JOHN! That sinfu' Man e'er brought
To the land o' the leal.
Oh! dry your glist'ning e'e, JOHN!
My saul langs to be free, JOHN !
And Angels beckon me
To the land of the leal!
Oh! haud ye leal and true, JOHN!
Your day, it's wearin' thro', JOHN!
And I'll welcome you
To the land o' the leal!
Now, fare ye weel! my ain JOHN!
This warld's cares are vain, JOHN!
We'll meet, and we'll be fain,
In the land o' the leal!
CALLER HERRIN'!
WHA'LL buy my caller herrin'?
They're bonnie fish and halesame farin'!
Wha'll buy my caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth?
When ye were sleepin' on your pillows,
Dream'd ye aught o' our puir fellows,
Darkling as they fac'd the billows,
A' to fill the woven willows?
Buy my caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth!
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
They're no brought here without brave daring! Buy my caller herrin',
Hauled thro' wind and rain!
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'? &c.
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
Oh! ye may ca' them vulgar farin'!
Wives and mithers maist despairing,
Ca' them lives o' men!
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'? &c.
When the creel o' herrin' passes,
Ladies, clad in silks and laces,
Gather in their braw pelisses,
Cast their heads, and screw their faces.
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'? &c.
Caller herrin 's no got lightly!
Ye can trip the spring fu' tightlie,
Spite o' tauntin', flauntin', flingin',
Gow has set you a' a-singing
'Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?' &c.
Neebour Wives! now tent my tellin'!
When the bonny fish ye're sellin',
At ae word be, in ye're dealin'!
Truth will stand, when a' thing 's failin'!
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'? &c.
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