| |
| THE OLD men sat with hats pull’d down, | |
| Their claret cups before them: | |
| Broad shadows hid their sullen eyes, | |
| The tavern lamps shone o’er them, | |
| As a brimming bowl, with crystal fill’d, | 5 |
| Came borne by the landlord’s daughter, | |
| Who wore in her bosom the fair white rose, | |
| That grew best over the water. | |
| |
| Then all leap’d up, and join’d their hands | |
| With hearty clasp and greeting, | 10 |
| The brimming cups, outstretch’d by all, | |
| Over the wide bowl meeting. | |
| “A health,” they cried, “to the witching eyes | |
| Of Kate, the landlord’s daughter! | |
| But don’t forget the white, white rose | 15 |
| That grows best over the water.” | |
| |
| Each others’ cups they touch’d all round, | |
| The last red drop outpouring; | |
| Then with a cry that warm’d the blood, | |
| One heart-born chorus roaring— | 20 |
| “Let the glass go round, to pretty Kate, | |
| The landlord’s black-eyed daughter; | |
| But never forget the white, white rose | |
| That grows best over the water.” | |
| |
| Then hats flew up and swords sprang out, | 25 |
| And lusty rang the chorus— | |
| “Never,” they cried, “while Scots are Scots, | |
| And the broad Frith’s before us.” | |
| A ruby ring the glasses shine | |
| As they toast the landlord’s daughter, | 30 |
| Because she wore the white, white rose | |
| That grew best over the water. | |
| |
| A poet cried, “Our thistle ’s brave, | |
| With all its stings and prickles; | |
| The shamrock with its holy leaf | 35 |
| Is spar’d by Irish sickles. | |
| But bumpers round, for what are these | |
| To Kate, the landlord’s daughter, | |
| Who wears at her bosom the rose as white, | |
| That grows best over the water?” | 40 |
| |
| They dash’d the glasses at the wall, | |
| No lip might touch them after; | |
| The toast had sanctified the cups | |
| That smash’d against the rafter; | |
| Then chairs thrown back, they up again | 45 |
| To toast the landlord’s daughter, | |
| But never forgot the white, white rose | |
| That grew best over the water. | |
| |
