016 Beware O'Bonie Ann
Tune: Bonie Ann
1．
Ye gallants bright, I rede you right,
Beware o'bonie Ann!
Her comely face sae fu' o' grace,
Your heart she will trepan.
Her een sae bright, like stars by night,
Her skin is like the swan.
Sae jimply lac'd, her genty waist,
That sweetly ye might span.
2．
Youth, Grace, and Love attendant move,
And Pleasure leads the van:
In a' their charms, and conquering arms,
They wait on bonie Ann.
The captive bands may chain the hands,
But love enslaves the man:
Ye gallants braw, I rede you a',
Beware o' bonie Ann!
Notes
Title Beware O' Bonie Ann: Be Aware Of Lovely Ann
This poem was written in 1788 and first printed on 2nd February, 1790, on Miss Ann Masterton, the daughter of Burns in Edinburgh.
Stanza 1
Line 1 Ye: you; gallants: brave people; rede: advise, warn; right: correctly, truly
Line 3 comely: pretty, elegant; sae fu' o' grace: so full of grace
Line 4 trepan: ensnare, trap
Line 5 een: eyes
Line 7 jimply lac'd her genty waist: tightly laced her graceful
Line 8 span: touch
Stanza 2
Line 1 attendant: accompanied
Line 2 leads the van: take the lead
Line 4 wait on: serve
Line 5 bands: ribbons
Line 7 braw: brave