Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Loch Erroch

Loch-Erroch Side

By James Tytler (1745–1804)

AS I cam’ by Loch-Erroch side,

The lofty hills surveying,

The water clear, the heather blooms,

Their fragrance sweet conveying;

I met, unsought, my lovely maid,

I found her like May morning;

With graces sweet, and charms so rare,

Her person all adorning.

How kind her looks, how blest was I,

While in my arms I prest her!

And she her wishes scarce concealed,

As fondly I caressed her.

She said, “If that your heart be true,

If constantly you ’ll love me,

I heed not care nor fortune’s frowns,

For naught but death shall move me.

“But faithful, loving, true, and kind,

Forever thou shalt find me;

And of our meeting here so sweet,

Loch-Erroch sweet shall mind me.”

Enraptured then, “My lovely lass,”

I cried, “no more we ’ll tarry!

We ’ll leave the fair Loch-Erroch side,

For lovers soon should marry.”