Jean Elliot(1727–1805)
The Flowers of the Forest
I've heard the lilting2 at our yowe-milking,ewe
Lasses a-lilting before the dawn o' day;
But now they are moaning on ilka 0 green loaning: 3each
"The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.4
At buchts, in the morning, nae blythe lads aresheepfolds I no
scorning; 0teasing
The lasses are lonely, and dowie, and wae;sad /wretched
N a e daffin', n a e gabbin', b u t sighing a n dfoolish playing
sabbing:sobbing
Ilk ane lifts her leglen, 0 and hies her away. each / one / milk pail
In hairst, at the shearing, nae youths now are jeering,harvest
The bandsters 5 are lyart, and runkled 0 and gray; silvery I rumpled
At fair or at preaching, nae wooing, naefleeching:0 flattering
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
At e'en, in the gloaming, nae swankies6 are roamingtwilight
'Bout stacks 7 wi' the lasses at bogle 0 to play,hide-and-seek
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her dearie:
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.
Dule 0 and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border; grief I woe
The English, for ance, by guile wan 0 the day;once I won
The Flowers of the Forest, that foucht aye the foremost,
The prime o' our land, are cauld in the clay.cold
We'll hear nae mair lilting at our yowe-milking,more
Women and bairns 0 are heartless and wae;children
Sighing and moaning on ilka green loaning:
The Flowers of the Forest are a' wede away.