Bessy Bell & Mary Gray (1)/Bessy Bell & Mary Gray
BESSY BELL AND MARY GRAY.
O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They were twa bonny lasses,
They bigg'd a bow'r on yon burn brae,
And theek‘d it o'er wi‘ rashes,
Fair Bessy Bell I lo‘ed yestreen,
And thought I ne'er could alter,
But Mary Gray’s twa pawky een,
They gar my fancy faster.
Now Bessy's,hair's like a lint-tap,
She smiles like a May morning,
When Phœbus starts 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 vow! 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 whenev'r she dances;
Blyth as a kid, with, wit at will,
She blooming, tight, and tall is;
And guides her airs sae graceful still,
O Jove, she's like thy Palles.
Dear Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
Ye unco salr oppress us;
Our fancies jee between you tway,
Ye are sic bonny 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.