LXVI.
Reading edition
BEWARE O’ BONNIE ANN.
Tune—“Ye gallants bright.”
[Burns wrote this song in honour of Ann Masterton, daughter of Allan Masterton, author of the air of Strathallan’s Lament: she is now Mrs. Derbishire, and resides in London.]
I.
Ye gallants bright, I red ye right, Beware o’ bonnie Ann; Her comely face sae fu’ o’ grace, Your heart she will trepan. Her een sae bright, like stars by night, Her skin is like the swan; Sae jimply lac’d her genty waist, That sweetly ye might span.
II.
Youth, grace, and love attendant move, And pleasure leads the van: In a’ their charms, and conquering arms, They wait on bonnie Ann. The captive bands may chain the hands, But love enclaves the man; Ye Gallants braw, I red you a’, Beware of bonnie Ann!