Poem by Christian Milne

Song 1 (Now Winter is o'er, and sweet Spring is returning)

Now Winter is o'er, and sweet Spring is returning,
Green buds are expanding to deck ev'ry tree;
My BILLY 's return'd! no more I'll go mourning,
To pour my love plaint on a bank of the Dee!
The loud trump of War no more is heard blowing--
All hail to sweet Peace! its calm blessings bestowing:
Now I, while my BILLY is whistling and ploughing,
Light-hearted can sing with my flocks on the Dee!
Long, long were we parted by yon roaring ocean,
Loud War long detain'd my dear BILLY from me:
While he was embroil'd in the battle's commotion,
I wept, lest he ne'er should return to the Dee!
I threw by my crook, while my lambkins were feeding,
And mourn'd in despair, still some dire mishap dreading;
My fancy still shew'd me my BILLY laid bleeding
On some sandy desart remote from the Dee!
But Peace has restor'd me my BILLY , my lover,
And made me as blest as a maiden can be:
In affection I'm sure he has ne'er been a rover--
Tho' absent in person, his heart was on Dee!
No more on this bank a lone maid I'll sit pining;
He offers his hand--mine I'm clear for resigning;
Let HYMEN to-night his soft band be entwining,
To bind, e'er to-morrow, dear BILLY and me!

1. Written in Early Spring, 1795
2. Song 7 (Cool evening invites--let us stray)
3. Song 6 (Loud beats the drum--to arms! to arms!)
4. When in Dread of My Husband’s Safety at Sea
5. On the Birth of a Child, a Few Days after the Death of a First

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