Translation by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758)
Bessy Bell and Mary Gray
Language: English  after the English
O Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, They are twa bonie lasses, They biggit a bower on yon burn brae And theekit it o'er wi' rashes. Fair Bessy Bell I loo'd yestreen, And thought I ne'er could alter: But Mary Gray's twa pawky een, Soon gar my fancy falter. Now Bessy's hair's like a lint-tap; She smiles like a May morning. When Phoebus starts frae Thetis' lap, The hills with rays adorning: White is her neck, saft is her hand, Her waist and feet's fu' genty; With ilka grace she can command; Her lips, O wow! they're dainty. And Mary's locks are like the craw, Her een like diamond glances; She's ay sae clean, red up and braw, She kills whene'er she dances: Blythe as a kid, with wit at will, She blooming, tight, and tall is; And guides her airs sae gracefu' still, O Jove, she's like thy Pallas. Dear Bessy Bell and Mary Gray, Ye unco sair oppress us; Our fancies jee between you twae, Ye are sic bonie lasses: Waes me! for baith I canna get, To ane by law we're stinted; Then I'll draw cuts, and tak' my fate, And be with ane contented.
Glossary
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
Biggit = built
Brae = steep or sloping bank of a river
Theekit = thatched
Pawky een = coquettish eyes
Gar = make, force
Lint-tap = flax on the distaff
Genty = small and handsome
Ilka = every
Red up = well dressed
Braw = fine
Unco = very
Jee = move
Stinted = restricted
Authorship:
- by Allan Ramsay (1686 - 1758) [an adaptation] [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , "Bessie Bell and Mary Gray", Scottish folk ballad
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Bessy Bell and Mary Gray", JHW. XXXII/3 no. 176, Hob. XXXIa no. 178 [ sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, [adaptation] ; composed by Judith Weir.
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-02
Line count: 32
Word count: 197