O ONCE I lovd a bonie lass,
Ay, and I love her still;
And whilst that virtue warms my breast,
Ill love my handsome Nell.
As bonie lasses I hae seen,
And mony full as braw;
But, for a modest gracefu mein,
The like I never saw.
A bonie lass, I will confess,
Is pleasant to the ee;
But, without some better qualities,
Shes no a lass for me.
But Nellys looks are blythe and sweet,
And what is best of a,
Her reputation is complete,
And fair without a flaw.
She dresses aye sae clean and neat,
Both decent and genteel;
And then theres something in her gait
Gars ony dress look weel.
A gaudy dress and gentle air
May slightly touch the heart;
But its innocence and modesty
That polishes the dart.
Tis this in Nelly pleases me,
Tis this enchants my soul;
For absolutely in my breast
She reigns without control.
Note 1. The first of my performances.R. B. [back]
