It may escape the courtly sparks,
It may escape the learnèd clerks;
But weel the watching lover marks
The kind love that's in her e'e.


POORTITH CAULD

O poortith cauld, and restless love, [cold poverty]
Ye wreck my peace between ye;
Yet poortith a' I could forgive,
An' 'twere na for my Jeanie. [If 'twere not]

O why should fate sic pleasure have, [such]
Life's dearest bands untwining?
Or why sae sweet a flower as love
Depend on Fortune's shining?

The warld's wealth when I think on,
Its pride, and a' the lave o't,-- [rest]
My curse on silly coward man,
That he should be the slave o't.

Her een sae bonnie blue betray
How she repays my passion;
But prudence is her o'erword aye, [refrain]
She talks of rank and fashion.

O wha can prudence think upon,