Cairn O' Mount (a poem by Alexander Balfour : 1767 - 1829)
from
"A North Country Garland"
Cairn O' Mount
As I rode down by the Brig o' Dye
And past yon hill o' broom,
A maiden sang right merrily,
Just as the sun gaed down.
---
"It's Cairn o' Mount is bleak and bare,
And cauld is Clochnaben'
And you will see the snow lie there
Alang the summer's end."
---
I lighted off my dapple grey
And walked by her side,
Saying, "Lassie, I have lost my way
Upon your moors so wide.
---
"Oh war me o' your face so fair,
Your een so bonnie blue,
The longest day I'd blythely share
To kiss your cherry mou'.
---
"Oh, lassie, will you gang wi' me,
And leave your cauldrich glen?
Wi' a' my kin ye'll bear the gree,
There's wealth baith but and ben."
---
"Wi' silks and satins buskit braw,
And ribbons for your hair,
And maids to answer when you ca',
So, can you wish for mair?"
---
"O lassie, ye maun think a wee,
My lands are far and wide,
I've gold in banks, and ships at sea,
So come and be my bride."
---
"My father left me lairdships twa,
A coach at my command,
I'll make you lady o'er them a',
If you'll give me your hand."
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"Though Cairn o' Mount is bleak and bare,
You're no a match for me;
My Donald he is a' my care,
Ride on and let me be."
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"He meets me on yon hill so green
His heart is leal and true
If Donald heard my angry scream
He soon would make you rue."
---
"O, lassie, think, your Donald's poor,
Has neither horse nor coo;
A shepherd straggling o'er the moor
Is not a match for you."
---
"Cairn o' Mount is bleak and bare,
And cauld is Clochnaben;
I'd rather meet my Donald here
Than be fair Scotland's queen."
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"O lassie, I am loathe to tell,
You throw your love awa;
Your Donald brawly kens himsel'
Last gloamin' what I saw."
---
"As I rode by his shielin' door
I spied a Highland maid,
Your Donald kissed her o'er and o'er,
And rolled her in his plaid."
---
"Though you would swear wi' solemn oath
What you have told to me,
I would not dread my Donald's faith
But say, 'Base loon, ye lee."
---
It's he's thrown off his lowland dress,
Combed down his yellow hair,
Saying, "Lassie ye've been true to me,
And now we'll part nae mair."
---
"Nae mair I'm shepherd o' the glen,
But laird ayont the Dee;
And since ye have been true to me,
I'll aye prove true to thee."