1. AN MY SCYTHE WERE WHETTED SHARP AND KEEN An my scythe were whetted sharp and keen, with the corn and autumn grain, I would mow the flow'rs that grow between them; they for life should plead in vain. Fair, blue-eyed flow'rets, wherefore should I mourn you? False, blue-eyed maiden, wherefore should I scorn you? With thy love o'erladen, with these flow'rs fast fading I would fain adorn you for your new elected swain! 2. SMALL OUR HAMLET Small our hamlet by the riverside, love - I may never be thy bride, love; for thy mother shows her discontent, she will never to our union give her free consent. What care we, whate'er our mothers may say, love, though a thousand times they say us nay, love, we will never heed them nor obey, love. Thou art all my heart's delight, love, an thou to me stand and when bidding me "Good Night", love, giv'st thy tiny hand; Thou, my soul, my heart's delight, love, wilt to me stand, give me thy dear hand! 3. THE FORSAKEN LASSIE Down from her nest a wild dove flew towards a field where the ripe corn grew, filled her crop, then sought her nest, high in the willow, there to rest. There sits and weeps a maid so fair. Hot tears trill thro' her gold silken hair; sits and broiders a wreath and two rings. "Forsaken am I!" she softly sings. Broiders a rose, and makes sweet moan: "How could he leave me to die alone!" sits there and broiders a wreath and two rings... "I am forsaken!" she softly sings. Sits broid'ring a rose, and makes sweet moan: "How couldst thou leave me to die alone!" 4. ERE WE PART, LOVE, KISS ME Ere we part, love, kiss me, for we met in gladness: I shall miss thee, thou wilt miss me, yet why part in sadness? Thee will I remember, once ev'ry year in May. Love! Thee will I remember day by day where'er my fortsteps stray; Love, thee must I remember, fondly night and day! 5. THE PLEADING ROSE 1. There was a bonnie lass went to mow the meadow grass, Dew fell so cold, alas! she could not mow the grass. Weeping, she turn'd away, sad she did homeward stray. Down where the brooklet flows, she spied a budding rose. "Autumn's last rose so fair, thou shalt adorn my hair!" 2. Cull'd neath cold winter's sky, soon ev'ry rose must die. Neath summer sun's hot ray, spare me to live a day! But when sweet spring is come, cull me and take me home! 6. SHOW THY VERDURE Show thy verdure, waving grass, green by the purpling heather! Ne'er more shall I green, alas! soon neath the seythe I'll wither! Show in verdure, fragant grass, as thou hast ofttimes shown thee! Ne'er more shall I green, alas! Now the keen scythe has mown me! Open, tulip, sweet and fair, ope' thy cup in its splendour! How can I be sweet and fair, open my calix slender? Thou wouldst leave me to despair, me to grief surrender! See yon peartree, fond, sweet maid, withering, as it tow'rs above thee! When again it blooms, sweet maid, then again shall I love thee. See yon pinetree, weeping queen, fast all its needless shedding; when again it puts forth green, then, love, then shall be our wedding wedding! When Ev'ry day the sun doth shine, I'm on the watch with eyes keen... Oh, confound that wretched pine! not one tip it shows of green. Yesterday, the birds gan sing, early in the morning. I awoke to see young Spring hill and dale adorning. Then the thought: "Now art thou mine!" set my heart aglowing, for upon our poor old pine fresh green tips were showing.
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