The Book of Scottish Song/Bess and her Wheel

Bess and her Wheel.

[This song of humble industry and contentment was written by Burns for Johnson's Museum, to a fine air composed by Oswald, and called "Sweet 's the lass that lo'es me." In some collections we see the tune affixed to the song called "The Bottom of the Punchbowl."]

O Leeze me on my spinning-wheel!
O leeze me on my rock and reel!
Frae tap to tae that deeds me bien,
And haps me feil and warm at e'en!
I'll set me doun, and sing, and spin,
While laigh descends the simmer sun;
Blest wi' content, and milk, and meal—
O leeze me on my spinning-wheel!

On ilka hand the burnies trot,
And meet below my theekit cot;
The scented birk and hawthorn white
Across the pool their arms unite,
Alike to screen the birdie's nest,
And little fishes' caller rest;
The sun blinks kindly in the biel,
Where blythe I turn my spinning-wheel.

On lofty aiks the cushats wail,
And echo cons the doolfu' tale;
The lintwhite in the hazel braes,
Delighted, rival ither's lays:
The craik among the clover hay,
The paitrick whirring ower the lea,
The swallow jinkin' round my shiel:
Amuse me at my spinning-wheel.

Wi' sma' to sell, and less to buy,
Aboon distress, below envy,
O wha wad leave this humble state,
For a' the pride of a' the great?
Amid the flaring idle toys,
Amid their cumbrous, dinsome joys,
Can they the peace and pleasure feel
Of Bessy at her spinning-wheel?

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