SONG, Written
on reading “THE HARPER OF MULL,” a Highland Story. Set
to Music by MR. SMITH. ___ WHEN Rosie was faithful, how happy was I, Still
gladsome as simmer the time glided by, I
play’d my harp cheery, while fondly I sang, Of
the charms o’ my Rosie the winter nights lang. But
now I’m as waefu’ as waefu’ can be, Come
simmer, come
winter, ’tis
a’ ane to me,
For
the dark gloom of falsehood sae clouds my sad soul, That
cheerless for ay is the Harper of Mull. I
wander the glens and the wild woods alane, In their deepest recesses I mak’ my sad mane. My
harp’s mournfu’ melody joins in the strain, While
sadly I sing o’ the days that are gane; Tho’
Rosie is faithless she’s nae the less fair, An’
the thought o’ her beauty but feeds my despair; Wi’
painfu’ remembrance my bosom is full, An’
weary o’ life is the Harper of Mull. As
slumb’ring I lay by the dark mountain-stream, My
lovely young Rosie appear’d in my dream; I
thought her still kind, an’
I ne’er was sae blest, As
in fancy I claspt the dear Nymph to my breast. Thou
fause fleeting vision too soon thou wert o'er! Thou
wak’dst me to tortures unequal’d before; But
death’s silent slumbers my griefs soon shall lull;
An’
the green grass wave over the Harper of Mull. |