Poortith Cauld

Tippett, Michael

O poortith cauld, and restless love,

Ye wrack my peace between ye;

Yet poortith a' I could forgive

An 'twere na for my Jeanie.

Chorus:

O why should Fate sic pleasure have,

Life's dearest bands untwining?

Or why sae sweet a flower as love,

Depend on Fortune's shining?

This warld's wealth when I think on,

Its pride, and a' the lave o't;

My curse on silly coward man,

That he should be the slave o't.

Her een sae bonie blue betray,

How she repays my passion;

But Prudence is her o'erword ay,

She talks o' rank and fashion.

O wha can prudence think upon,

And sic a lassie by him:

O wha can prudence think upon,

And sae in love as I am?

How blest the wild-wood Indian's fate,

He wooes his simple Dearie:

The silly bogles, Wealth and State,

Did never make them eerie.