XCVII.
Reading edition
MEIKLE THINKS MY LUVE.
Tune—“My tocher’s the jewel.”
[These verses were written by Burns for the Museum, to an air by Oswald: but he wished them to be sung to a tune called “Lord Elcho’s favourite,” of which he was an admirer.]
I.
O Meikle thinks my luve o’ my beauty, And meikle thinks my luve o’ my kin; But little thinks my luve I ken brawlie My tocher’s the jewel has charms for him. It’s a’ for the apple he’ll nourish the tree; It’s a’ for the hiney he’ll cherish the bee; My laddie’s sae meikle in luve wi’ the siller, He canna hae lure to spare for me.
II.
Your proffer o’ luve’s an airl-penny, My tocher’s the bargain ye wad buy; But an ye be crafty, I am cunnin’, Sae ye wi’ anither your fortune maun try. Ye’re like to the timmer o’ yon rotten tree, Ye’ll slip frae me like a knotless thread, And ye’ll crack your credit wi’ mae nor me.