take pity on a sodger.”
sae wistfully she gaz'd on me,
and lovelier was than ever;
quo' she, “a sodger ance i lo'ed,
forget him shall i never:
our humble cot, and hamely fare,
ye freely shall partake it;
that gallant badge—the dear cockade,
ye're wee for the sake o't.”
she gaz'd—she redden'd like a rose—
syne pale like only lily;
she sank within my arms, and cried,
“art thou my ain dear willie?”
“by him who made yon sun and sky!
by whom true love's regarded,
i am the man; and thus may still
true lovers be rewarded.
“the wars are o'er, and i'me hame,
and find thee still true-hearted;
tho' poor in gear, we're rich in love,
and mair we'se ne'er be parted.”
quo' she, “my grandsire left me gowd,
a mailen plenish'd fairly;
ande, my faithfu' sodger lad,
thou'rt wee to it dearly!”
for gold the merchant ploughs the main,
the farmer ploughs the manor;
but glory is the sodger's prize,
the sodgerpppp's wealth is honor:
the brave poor sodger ne'er despise,
nor count him as a stranger;
remember he's his country's stay,
in day and hour of danger.