THE LASS O' PATIE'S MILL
Allan Ramsay

 The lass o' Patie's mill
    Sae bonnie, blythe and gay,
In spite of all my skill,
Hath stole my heart away.
When tedding of the hay,
Bareheaded on the green,
Love 'midst her locks did play,
And wanton'd in her e'en.

 Without the help of art,
Like flowers which grace the wild,
She did her sweets impart,
Whene'er she spoke or smiled.
Her looks they were so mild,
Free from affected pride,
She me to love beguiled,
I wished her for my bride.

 Oh had I all that wealth
Hopetoun's high mountain fill,
Insured long life and health,
And pleasures at my will;
I'd promise and fulfil,
That none but bonnie she,
The lass o' Patie's mill,
Should share the same wi' me.

Footnote : Allan Ramsay ( 1684 - 1758 ) was a beacon of Scottish hope in the dark days following the incorporating Union between Scotland and England as an editor, poet and playwright. In 1724 he published 'The Ever Green' an anthology of Middle Scots verse, notably that of William Dunbar and Robert Henryson and his 5 volume 'Tea-Table Miscellany' ( 1724-37 ) brought together many traditional songs and ballads of Scotland, to which he added compositions of his own. His most famous work was the pastoral play 'The Gentle Shepherd'. A Nationalist and a Jacobite, he, along with Robert Fergusson, inspired our National Bard, Robert Burns, to write in his native tongue.