The Bonie Moor-Hen

written in 1787

The heather was blooming, the meadows were mawn, Our lads gaed a-hunting, ae day at the dawn, O'er moors and o'er mosses and mony a glen, At length they discovered a bonie moor-hen. I rede you beware at the hunting, young men; I rede you beware at the hunting, young men; Tak some on the wing, and some as they spring, But cannily steal on a bonie moor-hen. Sweet brushing the dew from the brown heather bells, Her colors betray'd her on yon mossy fells; Her plumage outlustred the pride o' the spring, And O! as she wantoned gay on the wing. Auld Phoebus himsel, as he peep'd o'er the hill, In spite at her plumage he tryed his skill; He levell'd his rays where she bask'd on the brae � His rays were outshone, and but mark'd where she lay. They hunted the valley, they hunted the hill; The best of our lads wi' the best o' their skill; But still as the fairest she sat in their sight, Then, whirr! she was over, a mile at a flight. I rede you beware at the hunting, young men; I rede you beware at the hunting, young men; Tak some on the wing, and some as they spring, But cannily steal on a bonie moor-hen.