Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 392. Song—Poortith cauld and restless love |
| | | | | Tune—“Cauld Kail in Aberdeen.” |
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| O POORTITH cauld, and restless love, | |
| Ye wrack my peace between ye; | |
| Yet poortith a’ I could forgive, | |
| An ’twere na for my Jeanie. | |
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| Chorus.—O why should Fate sic pleasure have, | 5 |
| Life’s dearest bands untwining? | |
| Or why sae sweet a flower as love | |
| Depend on Fortune’s shining? | |
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| The warld’s wealth, when I think on, | |
| It’s pride and a’ the lave o’t; | 10 |
| O fie on silly coward man, | |
| That he should be the slave o’t! | |
| O why, &c. | |
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| Her e’en, sae bonie blue, betray | |
| How she repays my passion; | 15 |
| But prudence is her o’erword aye, | |
| She talks o’ rank and fashion. | |
| O why, &c. | |
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| O wha can prudence think upon, | |
| And sic a lassie by him? | 20 |
| O wha can prudence think upon, | |
| And sae in love as I am? | |
| O why, &c. | |
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| How blest the simple cotter’s fate! | |
| He woos his artless dearie; | 25 |
| The silly bogles, wealth and state, | |
| Can never make him eerie, | |
| O why, &c. | |
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