Love's Visit

Love came to the door o' my heart ae night,
And he call'd wi' a whining din —
" Oh, open the door ! for it is but thy part
To let an old crony come in."
" Thou sly little elf! I hae open'd to thee
Far aftener than I dare say ;
An' dear hae the openings been to me,
Before I could wile you away."

" Fear not," quo' Love, " for my bow 'sin the rest,
And my arrows are ilk ane gane ;
For you sent me to wound a lovely breast,
Which has proved o' the marble stane.
I am sair forspent, then let me come in
To the nook where I wont to lie,
For sae ait hae I been this door within
That I downa think to gang by."

I open'd the door, though I ween'd it a sin,
To the sweet little whimpering fay ;
But he raised sic a buzz the cove within,
That he fill'd me with wild dismay ;
For first I felt sic a thrilling smart,
And then sic an ardent glow,
That I fear'd the chords o' my sanguine heart
War a' gaun to flee in a lowe.

" Gae away, gae away, thou wicked wean !"

I cried, wi' the tear in my ee;
" Ay ! sae ye may say !" quo' he, " but I ken
Ye'll be laith now to part wi' me."
And what do you think ? — by day and by night,
For these ten lang years and twain,
I have cherish'd the urchin with fondest delight,
And we'll never mair part again.