Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Illustrations of the lyric poetry and music of Scotland

399 CCCCXLVIII. THE BONNIE LASS THAT MADE THE BED.
Blythe and bonnie and fair was she.
The lass that made the bed to me.
&c. &c. &c.
A corrupted version of this ballad, under the title of " The
Cumberland Lass," may be seen in Playford's " Wit and
Mirth,"" vol. ii. first edition, London 1700 ; but neither the
air nor the words (although the sense is retained) are genu-
ine. Had the delicacy of this old ballad been equal to its
humour, the writer of this article, who has frequently heard
it in his youth, would gladly have inserted it in this work ;
but it is inadmissible, and even Burns' first draught of the
imitative verses are not altogether unobjectionable. Of this
the bard was afterwards fully sensible, and it is one of those
pieces, which, in his letter to Johnson, he says might be
amended in a subsequent edition. The following version of
the ballad contains the last alterations and corrections of the
bard.
Whan winter's wind was blawing cauld.
As to the North I bent my way.
The mirksome night did me enfauld,
I knew na whare to lodge till day.
A charming girl I chanc'd to meet.
Just in the middle o' my care.
And kindly she did me invite.
Her father's humble cot to share.
Her hair was like the gowd sae fine.
Her teeth were like the ivorie.
Her cheeks like lilies dipt in wine.
The lass that made the bed to me.
Her bosom was the drifted snaw.
Her limbs like marble fair to see ;
A finer form nane ever saw.
Than her's that made the bed to me.
She made the bed baith lang and braid,
Wi' twa white hands she spread it down.
She bade " Gude night," and smiling, said
" I hope ye'U sleep baith saft and soun'."
Upon the morrow, whan I raise,
I thank'd her for her courtesie ;
A blush cam o'er the comely face
Of her that made the bed to me.