Jean Elliot Jean Elliot ( 1727 - March 29 , 1805 ) was a Scottish poet , daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto . She has a small niche in literature as the author of the beautiful ballad , The Flowers of the Forest , beginning , `` I 've heard the lilting at our yowe-milking. '' Another ballad with the same title beginning , `` I 've seen the smiling of fortune beguiling '' was written by Alicia Rutherford . This article incorporates public domain text from : Cousin , John William ( 1910 ) . A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature . London , J.M. Dent & sons ; New York , E.P. Dutton . Categories : A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature | 1727 births | 1805 deaths | Scottish poets 