James Yool: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

How ardently

James Yool

“How ardently” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

James Yool: Collected Lyrics Text 2 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

How ardently my bosom glows

Wi' love to thee, my dearie, 0,

My panting heart its passion shows,

Whenever thou art near me, O.

The sweetness o' thy artless smile,

Thy sparkling e'e's resistless wile,

Gars sober reason back recoil,

Wi' love turn'd tapsalteerie, O.

Thy lips, sure seats o' sweet delight,

Wha e'er may haflins see them, O,

Maun be a cauldrife, lifeless wight,

Shou'd he no try to pree them, O;

To me thou ever shalt be dear,

Thy image in my heart I'll wear,

Contentment's sun my day shall cheer,

As lang's thou'lt be my dearie, O.

Nae will-o'-wisp's delusive blaze,

Through fortune's fen sae drearie, O,

Nor wealth, nor fame's attractive rays,

Shall lure me frae my dearie, O;

But through the rural shady grove,

Owre flow'ry lea wi' thee I'll rove;

My cot shall be the seat o' love

While life remains, my dearie, O.

The pleasing scenes of nature gay,

May charm the heart that's sairy, O;

Yet even such scenes to me add wae,

When absent frae my dearie, O.

Remembrance broods still on the hour,

When first within yon lonely bower,

I felt the love-enslaving power

Of thy sweet charms, my dearie, O.

Credits

Written by James Yool

Words by James Yool. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “How ardently”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-12. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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