1 JOHN BARLEYCORN-A BALLAD.1 THERE were three kings into the east, They took a plough and ploughed him down, Put clods upon his head; And they hae sworn a solemn oath, John Barleycorn was dead. But the cheerful spring came kindly on, The sultry suns of summer came, 1 This is an improvement upon an early song of probably English origin, of which Mr. Robert Jameson has given a copy in his Ballads (2 vols. 8vo.), which he obtained from a black-letter sheet in the Pepys Library, Cambridge. The sober autumn entered mild, When he grew wan and pale; His bending joints and drooping head Shewed he began to fail. His colour sickened more and more, He faded into age; And then his enemies began To shew their deadly rage. They've taen a weapon, long and sharp, And cut him by the knee; Then tied him fast upon a cart, Like a rogue for forgerie. They laid him down upon his back, They filled up a darksome pit They laid him out upon the floor They wasted o'er a scorching flame The marrow of his bones; But a miller used him worst of all, For he crushed him 'tween two stones. And they hae taen his very heart's blood, John Barleycorn was a hero bold, For if you do but taste his blood, "Twill make a man forget his wo; "Twill heighten all his joy : "Twill make the widow's heart to sing, Though the tear were in her eye. Then let us toast John Barleycorn, Ne'er fail in old Scotland! MARY MORRISON. The year 1783, and the early part of 1784, wit nessed varions love-affairs of the poet, of which we have bnt an obscure account. One of these is merely indicated in the beautiful song of Mary Morrison. Он Mary, at thy window be, It is the wished, the trysted hour! Yestreen when to the trembling string, I sat, but neither heard nor saw. Oh Mary, canst thou wreck his peace, dust Or canst thou break that heart of his, Whase only faut is loving thee? THE RIGS O' BARLEY. TUNE-Corn Rigs. Ir was upon a Lammas night, The time flew by wi' tentless heed, The sky was blue, the wind was still, I kent her heart was a' my ain; |