The Book of Scottish Song/Pinkie House
Pinkie House.
[The following song was written by Joseph Mitchell to an old melody, which resembles in its character a church tune, called "Rothe's Lament." Pinkie House is the name of the seat of Sir John Hope, Bart., situated near the town of Musselburgh. From this song the tune is now called "Pinkie House," and the old name "Rothe's Lament" is dropped. Mitchell was the son of a stone-mason, and was born in 1684. He was author of a tragedy called Fatal Extravagance, of an opera called the Highland Fair, and of two volumes of Poems, published in 1729. He died in 1738. Long before his death, be got introduced to Sir Robert Walpole, the celebrated Whig minister, by whom he was liberally patronized, insomuch that he used to be called the Premier's Poet. Besides "Pinkie House" Mitchell wrote another song to the same tune, beginning,
"As Sylvia in a forest lay,"
which has sometimes been erroneously ascribed to David Mallet.]
By Pinkie House oft let me walk,
And muse o'er Nelly's charms!
Her placid air, her winning talk,
Even envy's self disarms.
O let me, ever fond, behold
Those graces void of art—
Those cheerful smiles that sweetly hold,
In willing chains, my heart!
O come, my love! and bring anew
That gentle turn of mind;
That gracefulness of air in you
By nature's hand design'd.
These, lovely as the blushing rose,
First lighted up this flame,
Which, like the sun, for ever glows
Within my breast the same.
Ye light coquettes! ye airy things!
How vain is all your art!
How seldom it a lover brings!
How rarely keeps a heart!
O gather from my Nelly's charms
That sweet, that graceful ease,
That blushing modesty that warms,
That native art to please!
Come then, my love! O, come along!
And feed me with thy charms;
Come, fair inspirer of my song!
Oh, fill my longing arms!
A flame like mine can never die,
While charms so bright as thine,
So heavenly fair, both please the eye,
And fill the soul divine!