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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE TARBOLTON LASSES by ROBERT BURNS

Poet Analysis

First Line: IF YE GAE UP TO YON HILL-TAP
Last Line: IT'S BESSY'S AIN OPINION!
Subject(s): WOMEN;

If ye gae up to yon hill-tap,
Ye'll there see bonnie Peggy;
She kens her father is a laird,
And she forsooth's a leddy.

There Sophy tight, a lassie bright,
Besides a handsome fortune:
Wha canna win her in a night,
Has little art in courtin'.

Gae down by Faile, and taste the ale,
And tak a look o' Mysie;
She's dour and din, a deil within,
But aiblins she may please ye.

If she be shy, her sister try,
Ye'll maybe fancy Jenny;
If ye'll dispense wi' want o' sense --
She kens hersel she's bonnie.

As ye gae up by yon hillside,
Speir in for bonnie Bessy;
She'll gie ye a beck, and bid ye light,
And handsomely address ye.

There's few sae bonnie, nane sae guid,
In a' King George' dominion;
If ye should doubt the truth o' this --
It's Bessy's ain opinion!



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