Lass Of Cessnock Banks, The
lass of cessnock banks, the 注释标题 the lass is identified as ellison begbie, a servant wench, daughter of a “farmer lang”. a song of similes tune—“if he be a butcher neat and trim.” on cessnock banks a lassie dwells; could i describe her shape and mein; our lasses a' she far excels, an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. she's sweeter than the morning dawn, when rising phoebus first is seen, and dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. she's stately like yon youthful ash, that grows the cowslip braes between, and drinks the stream with vigour fresh; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. she's spotless like the flow'ring thorn, with flow'rs so white and leaves so green, when purest in the dewy morn; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her looks are like the vernal may, when ev'ning phoebus shines serene, while birds rejoice on every spray; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her hair is like the curling mist, that climbs the mountain-sides at e'en, when flow'r-reviving rains are past; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her forehead's like the show'ry bow, when gleaming sunbeams intervene and gild the distant mountain's brow; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her cheeks are like yon crimson gem, the pride of all the flowery scene, just opening on its thorny stem; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her bosom's like the nightly snow, when pale the morning rises keen, while hid the murm'ring streamlets flow; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her lips are like yon cherries ripe, that sunny walls from boreas screen; they tempt the taste and charm the sight; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her teeth are like a flock of sheep, with fleeces newly washen clean, that slowly mount the rising steep; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her breath is like the fragrant breeze, that gently stirs the blossom'd bean, when phoebus sinks behind the seas; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. her voice is like the ev'ning thrush, that sings on cessnock banks unseen, while his mate sits nestling in the bush; an' she has twa sparkling roguish een. but it's not her air, her form, her face, tho' matching beauty's fabled queen; 'tis the mind that shines in ev'ry grace, an' chiefly in her roguish een.