Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Illustrated book of Scottish songs from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century
(43) Page 27 - Bessie Bell and Mary Gray
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SONGS OF THE AFFECTIONS. 27
To leave thee behind me my heart is sair pain'd ;
But by ease that's inglorious no fame can be gain'd ;
And beauty and love 's the reward of the brave,
And I maun deserve it before I can crave.
Then glory, my Jeanie, maun plead my excuse ;
Since honour commands me, how can I refuse ?
Without it, I ne'er can have merit for thee ;
And losing thy favour, I'd better not be.
I gae then, my lass, to win honour and fame ;
And if I should chance to come glorious hp,me,
I'll bring a heart to thee with love running o'er,
And then I'll leave thee and Lochaber no more.
The exquisite melody to which this song is sung has rendered it a general favourite.
Its effect upon the mind of Highlanders in a foreign land, or in emigration, is some-
times painful, and has been known to melt the roughest and rudest of men to tears.
The song itself, as a literary composition, is of little or no merit. It first appeared
in the " Tea-Table Miscellany," 1724. The air was originally entitled " King James's
march to Ireland."
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY.
Allan Eamsay.
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They were twa bonnie lasses ;
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it ower wi' rashes.
To leave thee behind me my heart is sair pain'd ;
But by ease that's inglorious no fame can be gain'd ;
And beauty and love 's the reward of the brave,
And I maun deserve it before I can crave.
Then glory, my Jeanie, maun plead my excuse ;
Since honour commands me, how can I refuse ?
Without it, I ne'er can have merit for thee ;
And losing thy favour, I'd better not be.
I gae then, my lass, to win honour and fame ;
And if I should chance to come glorious hp,me,
I'll bring a heart to thee with love running o'er,
And then I'll leave thee and Lochaber no more.
The exquisite melody to which this song is sung has rendered it a general favourite.
Its effect upon the mind of Highlanders in a foreign land, or in emigration, is some-
times painful, and has been known to melt the roughest and rudest of men to tears.
The song itself, as a literary composition, is of little or no merit. It first appeared
in the " Tea-Table Miscellany," 1724. The air was originally entitled " King James's
march to Ireland."
BESSIE BELL AND MARY GRAY.
Allan Eamsay.
Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,
They were twa bonnie lasses ;
They biggit a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it ower wi' rashes.
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Special collections of printed music > Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Illustrated book of Scottish songs from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century > (43) Page 27 - Bessie Bell and Mary Gray |
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Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/90349099 |
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More information |
Description | Scottish songs and music of the 18th and early 19th centuries, including music for the Highland bagpipe. These are selected items from the collection of John Glen (1833 to 1904). Also includes a few manuscripts, some treatises, and other books on the subject. |
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Description | The Glen Collection and the Inglis Collection represent mainly 18th and 19th century Scottish music, including Scottish songs. The collections of Berlioz and Verdi collected by bibliographer Cecil Hopkinson contain contemporary and later editions of the works of the two composers Berlioz and Verdi. |
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