Robert Burns: A play

by John Drinkwater

Burns: I’m not courting any longer, I tell you. I’m to beware of lasses, Nell, henceforth. I’m ice, I tell you.

Nell (moving away, singing):

O whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad,

O whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad:

Tho’ father and mother and a’ should gae mad,

O whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad.

[She has gone. Burns makes another move to the plough, then turns suddenly, and calls—]

Burns: Nell—Nell.

Nell (singing):

O whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad,