Bessy Bell & Mary Gray/Bessy Bell & Mary Gray

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BESSY BELL, AND MARY GRAY.

O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They were twa bonnie lasses;
They bigg’d a house on yon burn brae,
And theek’d it o'er wi’ rashes
Fair Bessy Bell I ⟨lov'd⟩ yestreen,
And thought I ne’er could alter;
But Mary Gray’s twa pawky een,
They gar my fancy falter.

Now Bessy s hair's like a lint=tap,
She smiles like a May morning,
When Phœbus darts frae Thetis' lap,
The hills with rays adorning:
White is her neck, saft is her hand,
Her waist and feet's fu‘ genty;
With ilka grace she can command,
Her lips, O wow, they’re dainty.

And Mary's locks are like a craw,
Her een like diamonds glances:
She’s ay sae clean, redd up, and braw,
She kills whene’er she dances;
Blythe as a kid, with wit at will,
She blooming, tight, and tall is,
And guides her airs sae gracefu’ still,
O Jove, she’s like my Pallas.

⟨Dear⟩ Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
Ye unco sair oppress us;
⟨Our⟩ fancies jee between us twae,
Ye are sic bonnie lasses;
Waes me, for baith I canna get,
To ane by law we're stented;
Then I'll draw cuts, and tak my fate,
And be with ane contented.