Glen Collection of printed music > Printed music > Songs of Robert Burns

VII. PATRIOTIC AND POLITICAL 233
When Love and Beauty heard the news
The gay greenwoods amang, man ;
Where, gathering flowers and busking bowers,
Ti^ey heard the blackbird's sang, man ;
A vow, they seal'd it with a kiss,
Sir Pohtics to fetter ;
As theirs alone, the patent bliss
To hold a Fete Champetre,
Then mounted Mirth on gleesome wing,
O'er hill and dale she flew, man ;
Ilk wimpling burn, ilk crystal spring,
Ilk glen and shaw she knew, man:
She summon'd every social sprite,
That sports by wood or water.
On th' bonie banks of Ayr to meet
And keep this Fete Champetre.
Cauld Boreas wi' his boisterous crew
Were bound to stakes like kye, man;
And Cynthia's car, o' silver fu',
Clamb up the starry sky, man :
Reflected beams dwell in the streams.
Or down the current shatter;
The western breeze steals thro' the trees
To view this Fete Champetre.
How many a robe sae gaily floats.
What sparkling jewels glance, man,
To Harmony's enchanting notes,
As moves the mazy dance, man !
The echoing wood, the winding flood
Like paradise did glitter.
When angels met at Adam's yett
To hold their Fete Champetre.
When Politics came there to mix
And make his ether-stane, man !
He circled round the magic ground,
But entrance found he nane, man :
He blush'd for shame, he quat his name,
Forswore it every letter,
Wi' humble prayer to join and share
This festive Fete Champetre.