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Poem
May 30, 1821
The Massachusetts Spy
Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
Reprint of the original Scots dialect version of 'Mary's Dream,' a tender ballad where Mary dreams of her drowned lover Sandy at sea, who appears as a ghost to comfort her and bid her not to weep, as they will meet in heaven.
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OCR Quality
92%
Excellent
Full Text
POETRY.
From the Salem Gazette.
Many of us, of a certain age, remember the delight which, twenty or thirty years ago, the tender song of "Mary's Dream" gave us. To such, particularly if they are partial to the sweet and poetical dialect of North-Britain, the following, which is the original of that song of the heart, may not be unacceptable.
OLD WAY OF MARY'S DREAM.
THE lovely moon had climb'd the hill
Where eagles big* aboon the Dee,
And, like the looks of a lovely dame,
Brought joy to ev'ry body's ee-
A' but sweet Mary, deep in sleep
Her thoughts on Sandy ar at sea :
A voice drapt saftly on her ear-
Sweet Mary, weep nae mair for me!
She lifted up her waukening een,
To see from whence-the voice might be,
And there she saw her Sandy stand,
Pale. bending on her his hollow ee!
O Mary. dear! lament nae mair-
I'm in death's thraws.t beiow the sea ;
Thy weeping makes me sad in bliss-
Sae, Mary, weep nae mair for me!
The wind slept when we let the bay,
But soon it wak'd and rais'd the main,
And God he bore us down the deep-
We strave wi' him but strave in vain!
He stretch'd his arm and took me up,
Though laith I was to gang but thee.
I look frae heav'n aboon the storm,
Sae, Mary, weep nae mair for me!
Take off the bride-sheets frae thy bed,
Which thon hast faulded down for me ;
Unrobe thee of thy earthly stole-
I'll meet with thee in heaven bie.'
Three times the grey cock flapp'd his wing,
To mark the morning lift her ee,
And thrice the passing spirit said,
Sweet Mary, weep nae mair for me !"
*Build their nests. —thraws, throes.- But, without.
From the Salem Gazette.
Many of us, of a certain age, remember the delight which, twenty or thirty years ago, the tender song of "Mary's Dream" gave us. To such, particularly if they are partial to the sweet and poetical dialect of North-Britain, the following, which is the original of that song of the heart, may not be unacceptable.
OLD WAY OF MARY'S DREAM.
THE lovely moon had climb'd the hill
Where eagles big* aboon the Dee,
And, like the looks of a lovely dame,
Brought joy to ev'ry body's ee-
A' but sweet Mary, deep in sleep
Her thoughts on Sandy ar at sea :
A voice drapt saftly on her ear-
Sweet Mary, weep nae mair for me!
She lifted up her waukening een,
To see from whence-the voice might be,
And there she saw her Sandy stand,
Pale. bending on her his hollow ee!
O Mary. dear! lament nae mair-
I'm in death's thraws.t beiow the sea ;
Thy weeping makes me sad in bliss-
Sae, Mary, weep nae mair for me!
The wind slept when we let the bay,
But soon it wak'd and rais'd the main,
And God he bore us down the deep-
We strave wi' him but strave in vain!
He stretch'd his arm and took me up,
Though laith I was to gang but thee.
I look frae heav'n aboon the storm,
Sae, Mary, weep nae mair for me!
Take off the bride-sheets frae thy bed,
Which thon hast faulded down for me ;
Unrobe thee of thy earthly stole-
I'll meet with thee in heaven bie.'
Three times the grey cock flapp'd his wing,
To mark the morning lift her ee,
And thrice the passing spirit said,
Sweet Mary, weep nae mair for me !"
*Build their nests. —thraws, throes.- But, without.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Marys Dream
Sandy At Sea
Scots Ballad
Drowned Lover
Ghostly Vision
Poem Details
Title
Old Way Of Mary's Dream.
Subject
Original Scots Version Of Mary's Dream
Key Lines
The Lovely Moon Had Climb'd The Hill
Where Eagles Big* Aboon The Dee,
And, Like The Looks Of A Lovely Dame,
Brought Joy To Ev'ry Body's Ee
A' But Sweet Mary, Deep In Sleep