[
  {
    "title": "403. The Soldier’s Return: A Ballad",
    "author": "Robert Burns",
    "lines": [
      "WHEN wild war’s deadly blast was blawn,",
      "  And gentle peace returning,",
      "Wi’ mony a sweet babe fatherless,",
      "  And mony a widow mourning;",
      "I left the lines and tented field,",
      "  Where lang I’d been a lodger,",
      "My humble knapsack a’ my wealth,",
      "  A poor and honest sodger.",
      "",
      "",
      "A leal, light heart was in my breast,",
      "  My hand unstain’d wi’ plunder;",
      "And for fair Scotia hame again,",
      "  I cheery on did wander:",
      "I thought upon the banks o’ Coil,",
      "  I thought upon my Nancy,",
      "I thought upon the witching smile",
      "  That caught my youthful fancy.",
      "",
      "",
      "At length I reach’d the bonie glen,",
      "  Where early life I sported;",
      "I pass’d the mill and trysting thorn,",
      "  Where Nancy aft I courted:",
      "Wha spied I but my ain dear maid,",
      "  Down by her mother’s dwelling!",
      "And turn’d me round to hide the flood",
      "  That in my een was swelling.",
      "",
      "",
      "Wi’ alter’d voice, quoth I, “Sweet lass,",
      "  Sweet as yon hawthorn’s blossom,",
      "O! happy, happy may he be,",
      "  That’s dearest to thy bosom:",
      "My purse is light, I’ve far to gang,",
      "  And fain would be thy lodger;",
      "I’ve serv’d my king and country lang—",
      "  Take pity on a sodger.”",
      "",
      "",
      "Sae wistfully she gaz’d on me,",
      "  And lovelier was than ever;",
      "Quo’ she, “A sodger ance I lo’ed,",
      "  Forget him shall I never:",
      "Our humble cot, and hamely fare,",
      "  Ye freely shall partake it;",
      "That gallant badge-the dear cockade,",
      "  Ye’re welcome for the sake o’t.”",
      "",
      "",
      "She gaz’d—she redden’d like a rose—",
      "  Syne pale like only lily;",
      "She sank within my arms, and cried,",
      "  “Art thou my ain dear Willie?”",
      "“By him who made yon sun and sky!",
      "  By whom true love’s regarded,",
      "I am the man; and thus may still",
      "  True lovers be rewarded.",
      "",
      "",
      "“The wars are o’er, and I’m come hame,",
      "  And find thee still true-hearted;",
      "Tho’ poor in gear, we’re rich in love,",
      "  And mair we’se ne’er be parted.”",
      "Quo’ she, “My grandsire left me gowd,",
      "  A mailen plenish’d fairly;",
      "And come, my faithfu’ sodger lad,",
      "  Thou’rt welcome to it dearly!”",
      "",
      "",
      "For gold the merchant ploughs the main,",
      "  The farmer ploughs the manor;",
      "But glory is the sodger’s prize,",
      "  The sodger’s wealth is honor:",
      "The brave poor sodger ne’er despise,",
      "  Nor count him as a stranger;",
      "Remember he’s his country’s stay,",
      "  In day and hour of danger."
    ],
    "linecount": "64"
  }
]