by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
The collier's bonny lassie
Language: English
The collier has a daughter, And O she's wonderous bonny! A laird he was that sought her, Rich baith in lands and money: The tutors watched the motion Of this young honest lover; But love is like the ocean: Wha can its depths discover! He had the art to please ye, And was by a' respected; His airs sat round him easy, Genteel, but unaffected. The collier's bonny lassie, Fair as the new blown lily, Aye sweet, and never saucy, Secured the heart of Willy. He loved beyond expression The charms that were about her, And panted for possession, His life was dull without her. After mature resolving, Close to his breast he held her; In saftest flames dissolving, He tenderly thus tell'd her: "My bonny collier's daughter, "Let naething discompose ye, "'Tis nae your scanty tocher "Shall ever gar me lose ye; "For I have gear in plenty, "And love says 'tis my duty, "To ware what heaven has lent me "Upon your wit and beauty."
GLOSSARY
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Collier = charcoal-burner, coal-miner;
Tocher = marriage-portion, dowry;
Gar = make;
Gear = riches, goods of any kind;
Ware = make use of.
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "The collier's bonny lassie", JHW. XXXII/5 no. 378, Hob. XXXIa no. 213. [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2012-02-11
Line count: 32
Word count: 167