In Simmer, When The Hay Was Mawn

1.
In simmer, when the hay was mawn
And corn wav'd green in ilka field,
While claver blooms white o'er the ley,
And roses blaw in ilka bield,
Blythe Bessie in the milking shiel
Says:- ' I'll be wed, come o't what will!'
Out spake a dame in wrinkled eild:-
' O' guid advisement comes nae ill.'
2.
' It's ye hae wooers monie ane,
And lassie, ye're but young, ye ken!
Then wait a wee, and cannie wale
A routhie butt, a routhie ben.
There's Johnie o' the Buskie-Glen,
Fu' is his barn, fu' is his byre.
Tak this frae me, my bonie hen:
It's plenty beets the luver's fire!'

(Note:- 'hen' is a common form of
endearment to a young girl, in Scotland.)
3.
' For Johnie o' the Buskie-Glen
I dinna care a single flie:
He lo'er sae weel his craps and kye,
He has nae love to spare for me.
But blythe the blink o' Robie's e'e,
And weel I wat he lo'es me dear:
Ae blink o' him I wad na gie
For Buskie-Glen and a' his gear.'
4.
' O thoughtless lassie, life's a faught!
The canniest gate, the strife is sair.
But ay fu'-han't is fechtin best:
A hungry care's an unco care.
But some will spend, and some will spare,
An' wilfu' folk maun hae their will.
Syne as ye brew, my maiden fair,
Keep mind that ye maun drink the yill!'
5.
' O, gear will buy me rigs o' land,
And gear will buy me sheep and kye!
But the tender heart o' leesome loove
The gowd and siller canna buy!
We may be poor, Robie and I;
Light is the burden luve lays on;
Content and loove brings peace and joy:
What mair hae Queens upon a throne?'

In Summer, When The Hay Was Mown


In summer, when the hay was mown
And corn waved green in every field,
While clover blooms white over the pasture,
And roses blow in every sheltered spot,
Blythe Bessie in the milking shed
Says:- ' I will be wed, come of it what will!'
Out spoke a dame in wrinkled old age:-
' Of good advisement comes no ill.'

' It is you have wooers (courters) many a one,
And girl, you are but young, you know!
Then wait a little, and sensibly choose
A well-stocked kitchen, a well-stocked parlour.
There is Johnie of the Buskie-Glen,
Full is his barn, full is his byre (cow shed).
Take this from me, my lovely hen:
It is plenty that beats the lover's fire!'




' For Johnie of the Buskie-Glen
I do not care a single flly:
He loves so well his crops and cattle,
He has no love to spare for me.
But blythe the glance of Robie's eye,
And well I know he loves me dear:
One glance of him I would not give
For Buskie-Glen and all his gear.'

' O thoughtless girl, life is a fight!
The quietest way, the strife is sore.
But always full handed is fighting best:
A hungry care is a terrible care.
But some will spend, and some will spare,
And willful folk must have their will.
Then as you brew, my maiden fair,
Keep mind that you must drink the ale!'

' O, wealth will buy me ridges of land,
And wealth will buy me sheep and cattle!
But the tender heart of pleasant love
The gold and silver can not buy!
We may be poor, Robie and I;
Light is the burden love lays on;
Content and loove brings peace and joy:
What more have Queens upon a throne?'