Beauties of Glasgow/Beauties of Glasgow

For other versions of this work, see The Beauties of Glasgow.

THE BEAUTIES OF GLASGOW.

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WHEN I was young, and youth did bloom,
where fancy led me I did rove,
From town to town the nation round,
thro' many a silent shady grove.
At last come to Scotland by name,
which is adorn'd on every side,
With cities rare, but Glasgow fair
is the beauty of all on the banks of Clyde.

At first when I this city drew nigh,
it was into the month of May,
When all about this beautiful town
the fields were clad with flowers so gay,
The music bells, through woods and fells,
do echo out on every side,
Such melody can no where be,
like this on the banks of the river Clyde.

As I drew near, the girls did appear,
such beauties as I ne'er had seen,
The virgins fair with modest air,
pass up and down so neat and clean,
The people here so kind they were,
made me resolve here to abide,
For ever here I wish to live,
in Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

But when I came unto the Cross,
such buildings I to you declare,
For beauty never yet was seen,
in number all at once was there,
From east so west I do protest,
from south to north on every side,
The streets do lie with buildings high,
in Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

Likewise, which beautifies the town,
the goal is like a palace fair,
And just below a fine exchange,
where merchants they do all repair;
Where curiously, well mounted high,
King William doth on horseback ride,
All which does greatly beautify
this city on the banks of Clyde.

The music-bells, through woods and fells
repeat each quarter through the day,
When a's asleep with music sweet,
they cuirm the silent night away;
Those music-bells, through woods and fells,
do echo out on every side,
such melody can no where be,
like those on the banks of the river Clyde.

The streets they are so beautiful,
they cross each other curiously,
And all along on every side,
each building's like a palace high:
The churches rare they are so fair,
all be rich on every side;
Their steeples are so brisk and tall,
shine far frae the banks of river Clyde.

The coat of arms denotes their charms,
both from the air, the land, the sea,
Bell, fish and ring, and bird to sing,
full sweet on the top of an oaken tree;
All those you'll find most neatly join'd,
well beautified on every side,
With motto round, let Glasgow town
‘ still flourish on the banks of Clyde.

This charming town with water clear,
as crystal all along the streets,
Is well supply'd with fine machines,
which draw't from below your feet;
Likewise fine gardens all around,
with pleasant walks on every side,
Fine bleach fields, which pleasure yields,
to Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

Here's pleasure too, a river thro'
this city runs, although but small,
Where orderly twelve bridges high;
and those in half a mile stand all;
Although each one with curious stone,
are built with arches high and wide,
Six miles also this stream does go,
for Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

Likewise by right, for more delight,
they have a large and spacious green,
Adorn'd with planting all around,
divided by a pleasant stream.
Into the green there’s to be seen,
a building fair both high and wide,
For washing clear through a' the year,
For Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

Below this town two bridges stand,
through which the water clear doth fa',
From whence they have the pleasant view,
of the harbour at the Broomielaw.
Where sailors they, both night and day,
come sailing up at every tide,
Their landing be upon the quay,
at Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.

One thing abounds in this beautiful town,
remains untold thee, which I will,
Of their virtues free and frugality,
which doth surpass of beauties all;
The weaving art in every part,
whose splendid flowing branches wide,
Doth blossom here through all the year,
at Glasgow on the banks of Clyde.