Johnie's grey breeks

'Twas ev'n -- the dewy fields were green,

On every blade the pearls hang;

The zephyr wanton'd round the bean,

And bore its fragrant sweets alang;

In ev'ry glen the mavis sang,

All nature list'ning seem'd the while,

Except where green-wood echoes rang

Among the braes of Ballochmyle.

With careless step I onward stray'd,

My heart rejoic'd in nature's joy,

When musing in a lonely glade,

A maiden fair I chanc'd to spy;

Her look was like the morning's eye,

Her air like nature's vernal smile;

[Perfection whisper'd, passing by:—

" Behold the lass of Ballochmyle!"]

Fair is the morn in flow'ry May,

And sweet is night in autumn mild,

When roving through the garden gay,

Or wand'ring in the lonely wild:

But woman, nature's darling child!

There all her charms she does compile;

Even there her other works are foil'd

By the bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.

O had she been a country maid,

And I the happy country swain,

Tho' shelter'd in the lowest shed

That ever rose on Scotland's plain!

Thro' weary winter's wind and rain

With joy, with rapture, I would toil;

And nightly to my bosom strain

The bonny lass o' Ballochmyle.

Then Pride might climb the slipp'ry steep,

Where fame and honours lofty shine.

And thirst of gold might tempt the deep,

Or downward seek the Indian mine!

Give me the cot below the pine,

To tend the flocks or till the soil,

And ev'ry day have joys divine

With the bonie lass o' Ballochmyle.