break o' day, one morn o' May,
While dew lay silverin' all the lea";
_Burns_
"A lassie fair, wi' gowden hair
Came laughing up the glen to me."
_Nancy_
"Her face was like the hawthorn bloom,
Her eyes twa violets in a mist,"
_Burns_
"Her lips were roses of the June,
The sweetest lip's that e'er were kissed."
_Nancy_
"'O, what's your name and where's your hame?
My sweetest lassie, tell me true.'"
_Burns_
"'My name is Pleasure,' sir, she said,
'And I hae come to live with you.'"
_Nancy_
"She took my face between her hands,
And sat her down upon my knee."
_Burns_
"She put her glowing lips to mine,
And oh, but life was sweet to me."
_Nancy_
"Wi' mony a song we roved along
My arm all warm about her waist."
_Burns_
"The hours drunk wi' love's golden wine
Unheeded ane anither chased."
"Ah!" Nancy cried here, "That's the Burns touch! I could never have
done that!"
_Nancy_
"Her hair's gay gold, in many a fold,
Unheeded on my shoulder lay."
_Burns_
"Her heart beat on my very own,
And life and love were one that day."
_Nancy_
"When noon was highest up in air,
An ancient man came on the road."
_Burns_
"And when he saw my loving fair,
His eyes wi' fiercest anger glowed."
_Nancy_
"'And who is this,' he cried to me,
'That you have ta'en wi' you to dwell?'"
_Burns_
"'Her name is Pleasure,' sir, said I,
'And oh, I'm sure she loves me well.'"
_Nancy_
"'Rise up,' he cried, 'no more defer
To leave a wench not over nice.'"
_Burns_
"'She's Pleasure till ye wed wi' her,
Her name she changes then to Vice.'"
_Nancy_
"I got me up from where I lay,
And turned me toward the darkened land."
_Burns_
"'Adieu,' she said, wi' no dismay,
And waved toward me her lily hand."
* * * * *
_Nancy_
"The time was set, and then we met,
Old Wisdom came, and now we part."
_Burns_
"'Ye gang your gate, ye'll soon forget,
Nor think,' said she, 'twill break my heart.'"
_Nancy_
"'There's something strong within ye both,
That's makes ye tire of such as me."
_Burns_
"'But I'm as I was made,' she quoth,
'And how much better, sirs
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