THE BONNY HYND.

to it "

From Mr HERD's MS., where the following Note is prefixed Copied from the mouth of a Milkmaid, 1771, by W. L."

Ir was originally the intention of the Editor to have omitted this ballad, on account of the disagreeable nature of the subject. Upon consideration, however, it seemed a fair sample of a certain class of songs and tales, turning upon incidents the most horrible and unnatural, with which the vulgar in Scotland are greatly delighted, and of which they have current amongst them an ample store. Such, indeed, are the subjects of composition in most nations, during the early period of society; when the feelings, rude and callous, can only be affected by the strongest stimuli, and where the mind does not, as in a more refined age, recoil, disgusted, from the means by which interest has been excited. Hence incest, parricide-crimes,

in fine, the foulest and most enormous, were the early themes of the Grecian muse. Whether that delicacy, which precludes the modern bard from the choice of such impressive and dreadful themes, be favourable to the higher classes of poetic composition, may perhaps be questioned; but there can be little doubt, that the more important cause of virtue and morality is advanced by this exclusion. The knowledge, that enormities are not without precedent, may promote, and even suggest, them. Hence, the publication of the Newgate Register has been prohibited by the wisdom of the legislature; having been found to encourage those very crimes, of which it recorded the punishment. Hence, too, the wise maxim of the Romans, Facinora ostendi dum puniantur, flagitia autem abscondi debent.

The ballad has a high degree of poetical merit.

THE BONNY HYND.

COPIED

FROM THE MOUTH OF A MILKMAID,

IN 1771.

O MAY she comes, and May she goes,
Down by yon gardens green;
And there she spied a gallant squire,
As squire had ever been.

And May she comes, and May she goes,

Down by yon hollin tree;

And there she spied a brisk young squire,

And a brisk young squire was he.

"Give me your green manteel, fair maid; "Give me your maidenhead!

"Gin ye winna give me your green manteel, "Give me your maidenhead !"

"Perhaps there may be bairns, kind sir;
66 Perhaps there may be nane;
"But, if you be a courtier,
"You'll tell me soon your name."

"I am nae courtier, fair maid,
"But new come frae the sea;

"I am nae courtier, fair maid,
"But when I court with thee.

They call me Jack, when I'm abroad; "Sometimes they call me John; "But, when I'm in my father's bower, "Jock Randal is my name."

"Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny lad!
"Sae loud's I hear you lee!
"For I'm Lord Randal's ae daughter,
"He has nae mair nor me."

"Ye lee, ye lee, ye bonny May!
"Sae loud's I hear ye lee!
"For I'm Lord Randal's ae ae son,
"Just now come o'er the sea."

She's putten her hand down by her gare, And out she's ta'en a knife;

And she has put it in her heart's bleed,

And ta'en away her life.

And he has ta'en up his bonny sister,
With the big tear in his e'en;
And he has buried his bonny sister
Amang the hollins green.

And syne he's hyed him o'er the dale,

His father dear to see

Sing, Oh! and Oh! for my bonny hind,

"Beneath yon hollin tree!"