Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Illustrated book of Scottish songs from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century

SONGS OE THE AFEECTIONS. 61
How happy, lie cried, my moments once flew,
Ere Chloe's bright charms first flash'd in my view !
Those eyes then wi' pleasure the dawn could survey,
Kor smiled the fair morning mair cheerful than they.
Now scenes of distress please only my sight ;
I'm tortured in pleasure, and languish in light.
Through changes in vain relief I pursue,
All, all but conspire my griefs to renew ;
From sunshine to zephyrs and shades we repair —
To sunshine we fly from too piercing an air ;
But love's ardent fire burns always the same,
No winter can cool it, no summer inflame.
But see the pale moon, all clouded, retires ;
The breezes grow cool, not Strephon's desires ;
I fly from the dangers of tempest and wind,
Yet nourish the madness that preys on my mind.
Ah, wretch ! how can life be worthy thy care ?
To lengthen its moments but lengthens despair.
MY SHEEP I NEGLECTED.
SiK Gilbert Elliot of Minto, born 1722, died 1777, first Earl of Minto.
Printed in Yair's " Cliarmer," 1749, and in Herd's Collection.
Air — " My apron, dearie."
My sheep I neglected — I lost my sheep-hook,
And all the gay haunts of my youth I forsook ;
No more for Amynta fresh garlands I wove ;
For ambition, I said, would soon cure me of love.
Oh, what had my youth with ambition to do ?
Why left I Amynta ? why broke I my vow ?
Oh, give me my sheep, and my sheep-hook restore,
And I'll wander from love and Amynta no more.
Through regions remote in vain do I rove,
And bid the wide ocean secure me from love :
Oh, fool, to imagine that aught could subdue
A love so well founded, a passion so true !
Oh, what, &c.