Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Harp of Renfrewshire

365
A. I own thou'st acted well thy part
In favour of an honest heart;
But can'st thou tell me, if 't be common,
That thing, inconstancy, in women ?
T. I've heard it told by Aunty Bell,
That Scotland's Queen, tho' beauty's sel',
Was fickle as the winds that blaw,
'Tween Crookston Tow'r and Stanley shaw.
Yes, Scotland once a Queen could boast.
An outward beauty, to her cost,
For tho' that face was sweet and fair
As a May morn, or ev'ning air.
There was a rancour dwelt within —
The biggest, and the greatest sin
'Tween this and where the auld chap dwells;
(But whilst this tale I wouldna tell
To ony living save thysel',
I wishna ane to here or know it
Wha bears the name o' Bard or Poet,
For they're sic creatures, if they catch
A single word, they'll clout and patch
It to a song, and make it look
Some great affair, in some great book ;)
But, trusting much to thy discretion.
She wha rul'd this very nation
Once, wore a heart sae sinfu' black,
'Tis scarcely fitting for our crack.
'Tis said there was a chiel wha kept
Her siller a', paid a' her debt,
Paid compliments, I blush to tell.
And kissed her when it pleased himsel'.
(I know that Poets sometimes write
Of Mary in a diff'rent light,
But I ha'e proof for what I say.
And dare not write another way,
I winna for my country's sake
Aught but a true likeness take.)