Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. III. The Eighteenth Century: Addison to Blake

Robert Burns (1759–1796)

Tam Glen

MY heart is a breaking, dear Tittie,

Some counsel unto me come len’,

To anger them a’ is a pity;

But what will I do wi’ Tam Glen?

I ’m thinking, wi’ sic a braw fellow,

In poortith I might mak a fen’;

What care I in riches to wallow,

If I maunna marry Tam Glen?

There ’s Lowrie the laird o’ Dumeller,

‘Guid-day to you,’—brute! he comes ben:

He brags and he blaws o’ his siller;

But when will he dance like Tam Glen?

My minnie does constantly deave me,

And bids me beware o’ young men;

They flatter, she says, to deceive me;

But wha can think sae o’ Tam Glen?

My daddie says, gin I ’ll forsake him,

He ’ll gie me gude hunder marks ten:

But, if it ’s ordained I maun take him,

O wha will I get but Tam Glen?

Yestreen at the Valentine’s dealing,

My heart to my mou gied a sten:

For thrice I drew ane without failing,

And thrice it was written, Tam Glen.

The last Halloween I was waukin

My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken,

His likeness cam up the house staukin,

And the very grey breeks o’ Tam Glen!

Come counsel, dear Tittie, don’t tarry;

I ’ll gie ye my bonie black hen,

Gif ye will advise me to marry

The lad I lo’e dearly, Tam Glen.