John Rannie

Sally Roy

FAIR Sally, once the village pride,
⁠Lies cold and wan in yonder valley;
She lost her lover, and she died;
⁠Grief broke the heart of gentle Sally.
Young Valiant was the hero's name,
⁠For early valour fir'd the boy,
Who barter'd all his love for fame,
⁠And kill'd the hopes of Sally Roy.

Swift from the arms of weeping love,
⁠As rag'd the war in yonder valley,
He rush'd, his martial pow'r to prove,
⁠While faint with fear sunk lovely Sally.
At noon she saw the youth depart;
⁠At eve she lost her darling joy;
Ere night, the last throb of her heart
⁠Declared the fate of Sally Roy.

The virgin train in tears are seen,
⁠When yellow midnight fills the valley.
Slow stealing o'er the dewy green,
⁠Towards the grave of gentle Sally.
And while remembrance wakes the sigh,
⁠Which weans each feeling heart from joy;
The mournful dirge, ascending high,
⁠Bewails the fate of Sally Roy.