Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

The Lass o’ Gowrie

’T WAS on a summer’s afternoon,
A wee afore the sun gaed down,
A lassie, wi’ a braw new gown,
  Cam’ ower the hills to Gowrie.
The rosebud, washed in summer’s shower,	
Bloomed fresh within the sunny bower;
But Kitty was the fairest flower
  That e’er was seen in Gowrie.

To see her cousin she cam’ there,
An’, O, the scene was passing fair!
For what in Scotland can compare
  Wi’ the Carse o’ Gowrie?
The sun was setting on the Tay,
The blue hills melting into gray;
The mavis’ and the blackbird’s lay
  Were sweetly heard in Gowrie.

O, lang the lassie I had wooed!
An’ truth and constancy had vowed,
But cam’ nae speed wi’ her I lo’ed,
  Until she saw fair Gowrie.
I pointed to my faither’s ha’,
Yon bonnie bield ayont the shaw,
Sae loun’ that there nae blast could blaw;
  Wad she no bide in Gowrie?

Her faither was baith glad and wae;
Her mither she wad naething say;
The bairnies thocht they wad get play
  If Kitty gaed to Gowrie.
She whiles did smile, she whiles did greet,
The blush and tear were on her cheek;
She naething said, an’ hung her head;
  But now she ’s Leddy Gowrie.