Stephenson: The Ettrick Shepherd 



25 



Willie and Keatie, on the whole, is far the best of the volume. 

 It tells a simple love tale with genuine feeling in the simplest 

 language, and displays the author's love and accurate observa- 

 tion for nature. 



From these rugged prospects turn ye; 



Mark yon rauntree spreading wide, 

 Where the clear but noisy burnie 



Rushes down the mountain side. 



Ten lang days I thought upon her, 



Quite deprived o' peace an' rest; 

 Findin' I could brink no langer, 



I resolved to do my best. 



Now my yellow hair I plaited, 



Gae my downy chin a shave, 

 Thrice my tales of love repeated, 



Fearin' I would misbehave. 



Far away I took my journey, 



Left our hills sae high an' green, 

 Thro' a pleasant fertile country. 



Which I ne'er before had seen. 



Here we're charmed wi' works o' nature. 



Craggy cliff, an' lonely glenn; 

 There I oft stood like a statue, 



Wond'ring at the works o' men. 



Verdant pastures, grand inclosures, 

 Thrivin' woods, an' buildins' new. 

 Hale hillsides sawn up wi' clover, 

 Ev'ry where arose in view. 



Lang I gaed and kendna whither, 



Struck wi' ilka thing I saw, 

 Where yon little windin' river 



Murmurs owr the stanes sae sma'. 



Phoebus, now in all his glory, 



Sunk into the western main; 

 Frae his labour, soft an' slowly, 



Homeward trudged the weary swain. 



Nature, freed frae her auld lover 



Roughsome winter, gaunt and lean ; 

 Spring to charm, whose airs had moved her, 



Rob'd herself in cheerful green. 



