Bonny Mally Stewart (1826)/Waes me for prince Charly

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WAE ME FOR PRINCE CHARLY.

A wee bird came to our ha' door,
⁠He warbled sweet and clearly,
As aye he o'ercame o' his sang
⁠Wae(illegible text) Waes me for Prince Charly.
O! when I heard the bonny soun',
⁠The tears cam happin' rarely;
I took my bonnet aff my head,
⁠For weel I lo'ed Prince Charly.

Quoth I, My bird my bonny bonny bird,
⁠Is that a sang ye borrow,
Are ⟨these⟩ some words ye've learnt by heart,
⁠Or a lilt o' dool and sorrow.
Oh! no, no no the wee bird sang,
⁠I've flown sin' morning early;
But sick a day o' wind and rain—
⁠Oh! waes me for Prince Charly.

On hills that are by right his ain,
⁠He roves a lonely stranger;
On every side he's prest by want,
⁠On every side is danger.
(illegible text)"⟨Yestreen⟩ I met him in the glen,
⁠My heart maist burstit fairly;
For sadly changed indeed was he—
⁠Oh! waes me for prince Charly.

Dark night cam on the tempest roared,
⁠Loud our the hills and valleys;
An' whare was't that your prince lay down,
⁠Whose hame should be a palace.
"He row'd him in his Highland plaid,
⁠Which covered him but sparely,
An' slept beneath a bush o' broom—
⁠Oh waes me for prince Charly.

But now the bird saw some red coat,
⁠An' he shook his wings wi' anger—
Oh this is no a land for me,
⁠I'll tarry here nae langer.
He hover'd on the wing a while,
⁠Ere he departed fairly;
But weel I mind the fareweel straih,
⁠Was (illegible text) Waes me for Prince Charly.

FINIS.