The Soger's Return

A leal, light heart was in my breast,

My hand unstain'd wi' plunder;

And for fair Scotia, hame again

I cheery on did wander.

I thought upon the banks o' Coil,

I thought upon my Nancy,

I thought upon the witching smile

That caught my youthful fancy.

At length I reached the bonie glen,

Where early life I sported;

I pass'd the mill, and trysting thorn,

Where Nancy aft I courted:

Wha spied I but my ain dear maid,

Down by her mother's dwelling!

And turn'd me round to hide the flood

That in my een was swelling.

Wi' alter'd voice, quoth I, Sweet lass,

Sweet as yon hawthorn blossom,

O! happy, happy may he be,

That's dearest to thy bosom!

My purse is light, I've far to gang,

And fain wad be thy lodger;

I've serv'd my King and Country lang—

Take pity on a soger!

Sae wistfully she gaz'd on me,

And lovelier was than ever:

Quo' she, a soger ance I lo'ed,

Forget him shall I never:

Our humble cot, and hamely fare,

Ye freely shall partake it,

That gallant badge, the dear cockade,

Ye're welcome for the sake o't.

She gaz'd—she redden'd like a rose—

Syne pale like onie lily;

She sank within my arms, and cried,

Art thou my ain dear Willie?

By Him who made yon sun and sky,

By whom true love's regarded,

I am the man; and thus may still

True lovers be rewarded!

The wars are o'er, and I'm come hame,

And find thee still true-hearted;

Tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love,

And mair we'se ne'er be parted.

Quo' she, my grandsire left me gowd,

A mailen plenish'd fairly;

And come, my faithful soger lad,

Thou'rt welcome to it dearly!

For gold the merchant ploughs the main,

The farmer ploughs the manor;

But glory is the soger's prize;

The soger's wealth is honour:

The brave poor soger ne'er despise,

Nor count him as a stranger,

Remember he's his Country's stay

In the day and hour o' danger.