The Book of Scottish Song/For lack of Gold

For lack of Gold.

["These words," says Burns, "were composed by the late Dr. Austin, physician at Edinburgh. He had courted a lady, to whom he was shortly to have been married; but the Duke of Athole having seen her, became so much in love with her, that he made proposals of marriage; which were accepted of, and she jilted the doctor."—The lady in question was a daughter of John Drummond, Esq. of Megginch, Perthshire. She married James, second Duke of Athole, in May, 1749. She had no issue by his Grace; and after his death she married Lord Adam Gordon, fourth son of Alexander, second Duke of Gordon, and commander of the forces in Scotland. She died at the palace of Holyrood-house, on the 22d of Feb. 1795. Although Dr. Austin says,

"No cruel fair shall ever move
lily injured heart again to love,"

he afterwards married Miss Anne Sempill, sister of Lord Sempill, by whom he had a large family. He died in 1774. The song appears in "The Charmer," Edinburgh, 1751, and also in Johnson's Museum. The name of the tune, "For lack of gold she left me," is old.]

For lack of gold she has left me, O,
And of all that's dear she's berelt me, O;
She me forsook for Athole's duke.
And to endless woe she has left me, O.
A star and garter have more art
Than youth, a true and faithful heart;
For empty titles we must part—
For glittering show she has left me, O.

No cruel fair shall ever move
My injured heart again to love;
Through distant climates I must rove,
Since Jeany she has left me, O.
Ye powers above, I to your care
Resign my faithless, lovely fair;
Your choicest blessing be her share,
Though she has ever left me, O.

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