lass of cessnock banks, the 注释标题 the lass is identified as ellison begbie, a servant wench, daughter of a “farmer lang”.

  a song of similes

  tune—“if he be a butcher neat and trim.”

  on cessnock banks a lassie dwells;

  could i describe her shape and mein;

  our lasses a' she far excels,

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  she's sweeter than the morning dawn,

  when rising phoebus first is seen,

  and dew-drops twinkle o'er the lawn;

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  she's stately like yon youthful ash,

  that grows the cowslip braes between,

  and drinks the stream with vigour fresh;

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  she's spotless like the flow'ring thorn,

  with flow'rs so white and leaves so green,

  when purest in the dewy morn;

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  her looks are like the vernal may,

  when ev'ning phoebus shines serene,

  while birds rejoice on every spray;

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  her hair is like the curling mist,

  that climbs the mountain-sides at e'en,

  when flow'r-reviving rains are past;

  an' she has twa sparkling roguish een.

  her forehead's like the show'ry bow,

  when gleaming sunbeams intervene