by Robert Burns
Epistle to Colonel de Peyster
MY honor’d Colonel, deep I feel
Your interest in the Poet’s weal;
Ah! now sma’ heart hae I to speel
The steep Parnassus,
Surrounded thus by bolus pill, 5
And potion glasses.
O what a canty world were it,
Would pain and care and sickness spare it;
And Fortune favour worth and merit
As they deserve; 10
And aye rowth o’ roast-beef and claret,
Syne, wha wad starve?
Dame Life, tho’ fiction out may trick her,
And in paste gems and frippery deck her;
Oh! flickering, feeble, and unsicker 15
I’ve found her still,
Aye wavering like the willow-wicker,
‘Tween good and ill.
Then that curst carmagnole, auld Satan,
Watches like baudrons by a ratton 20
Our sinfu’ saul to get a claut on,
Wi’felon ire;
Syne, whip! his tail ye’ll ne’er cast saut on,
He’s aff like fire.
Ah Nick! ah Nick! it is na fair, 25
First showing us the tempting ware,
Bright wines, and bonie lasses rare,
To put us daft
Syne weave, unseen, thy spider snare
O hell’s damned waft. 30
Poor Man, the flie, aft bizzes by,
And aft, as chance he comes thee nigh,
Thy damn’d auld elbow yeuks wi’joy
And hellish pleasure!
Already in thy fancy’s eye, 35
Thy sicker treasure.
Soon, heels o’er gowdie, in he gangs,
And, like a sheep-head on a tangs,
Thy girning laugh enjoys his pangs,
And murdering wrestle, 40
As, dangling in the wind, he hangs,
A gibbet’s tassel.
But lest you think I am uncivil
To plague you with this draunting drivel,
Abjuring a’ intentions evil, 45
I quat my pen,
The Lord preserve us frae the devil!
Amen! Amen!
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
550.
A Lass wi’ a Tocher (Song)
Tune— “Ballinamona Ora.”
AWA’ wi’ your witchcraft o’ Beauty’s alarms,
The slender bit Beauty you grasp in your arms,
O, gie me the lass that has acres o’ charms,
O, gie me the lass wi’ the weel-stockit farms.
Chorus. — Then hey, for a lass wi’ a tocher, 5
Then hey, for a lass wi’ a tocher;
Then hey, for a lass wi’ a tocher;
The nice yellow guineas for me.
Your Beauty’s a flower in the morning that blows,
And withers the faster, the faster it grows: 10
But the rapturous charm o’ the bonie green knowes,
Ilk spring they’re new deckit wi’ bonie white yowes.
Then hey, for a lass, &c.
And e’en when this Beauty your bosom hath blest
The brightest o’ Beauty may cloy when possess’d; 15
But the sweet, yellow darlings wi’ Geordie impress’d,
The langer ye hae them, the mair they’re carest.
Then hey, for a lass, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
551.
Ballad on Mr. Heron’s Election — No. 4
The Trogger.
Tune— “Buy Broom Besoms.”
WHA will buy my troggin, fine election ware,
Broken trade o’ Broughton, a’ in high repair?
Chorus. — Buy braw troggin frae the banks o’ Dee;
Wha wants troggin let him come to me.
There’s a noble Earl’s fame and high renown, 5
For an auld sang — it’s thought the gudes were stown —
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s the worth o’ Broughton in a needle’s e’e;
Here’s a reputation tint by Balmaghie.
Buy braw troggin, &c. 10
Here’s its stuff and lining, Cardoness’ head,
Fine for a soger, a’ the wale o’ lead.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s a little wadset, Buittle’s scrap o’ truth,
Pawn’d in a gin-shop, quenching holy drouth. 15
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s an honest conscience might a prince adorn;
Frae the downs o’ Tinwald, so was never worn.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s armorial bearings frae the manse o’ Urr; 20
The crest, a sour crab-apple, rotten at the core.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s the worth and wisdom Collieston can boast;
By a thievish midge they had been nearly lost.
Buy braw troggin, &c. 25
Here is Satan’s picture, like a bizzard gled,
Pouncing poor Redcastle, sprawlin’ like a taed.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here’s the font where Douglas stane and mortar names;
Lately used at Caily christening Murray’s crimes. 30
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Here is Murray’s fragments o’ the ten commands;
Gifted by black Jock to get them aff his hands.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Saw ye e’er sic troggin? if to buy ye’re slack, 35
Hornie’s turnin chapman — he’ll buy a’ the pack.
Buy braw troggin, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
552.
Complimentary versicles to Jessie Lewars
THE TOAST
FILL me with the rosy wine,
Call a toast, a toast divine:
Giveth me Poet’s darling flame,
Lovely Jessie be her name;
Then thou mayest freely boast, 5
Thou hast given a peerless toast.
THE MENAGERIE
Talk not to me of savages,
From Afric’s burning sun;
No savage e’er could rend my heart,
As Jessie, thou hast done: 10
But Jessie’s lovely hand in mine,
A mutual faith to plight,
Not even to view the heavenly choir,
Would be so blest a sight.
JESSIE’S ILLNESS
Say, sages, what’s the charm on earth 15
Can turn Death’s dart aside!
It is not purity and worth,
Else Jessie had not died.
ON HER RECOVERY
But rarely seen since Nature’s birth,
The natives of the sky; 20
Yet still one seraph’s left on earth,
For Jessie did not die.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
553.
O lay thy loof in mine, lass (Song)
Chorus — O lay thy loof in mine, lass,
In mine, lass, in mine, lass;
And swear on thy white hand, lass,
That thou wilt be my ain.
A SLAVE to Love’s unbounded sway, 5
He aft has wrought me meikle wae;
But now he is my deadly fae,
Unless thou be my ain.
O lay thy loof, &c.
There’s mony a lass has broke my rest, 10
That for a blink I hae lo’ed best;
But thou art Queen within my breast,
For ever to remain.
O lay thy loof, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
554.
A Health to ane I loe dear (Song)
Chorus — Here’s a health to ane I loe dear,
Here’s a health to ane I loe dear;<
br />
Thou art sweet as the smile when fond lovers meet,
And soft as their parting tear — Jessy.
ALTHO’ thou maun never be mine, 5
Altho’ even hope is denied;
‘Tis sweeter for thee despairing,
Than ought in the world beside — Jessy.
Here’s a health, &c.
I mourn thro’ the gay, gaudy day, 10
As hopeless I muse on thy charms;
But welcome the dream o’ sweet slumber,
For then I am lockt in thine arms — Jessy.
Here’s a health, &c.
I guess by the dear angel smile, 15
I guess by the love-rolling e’e;
But why urge the tender confession,
‘Gainst Fortune’s fell, cruel decree? — Jessy.
Here’s a health, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
555.
O wert thou in the cauld blast (Song)
O WERT thou in the cauld blast,
On yonder lea, on yonder lea,
My plaidie to the angry airt,
I’d shelter thee, I’d shelter thee;
Or did Misfortune’s bitter storms 5
Around thee blaw, around thee blaw,
Thy bield should be my bosom,
To share it a’, to share it a’.
Or were I in the wildest waste,
Sae black and bare, sae black and bare, 10
The desert were a Paradise,
If thou wert there, if thou wert there;
Or were I Monarch o’ the globe,
Wi’ thee to reign, wi’ thee to reign,
The brightest jewel in my Crown 15
Wad be my Queen, wad be my Queen.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
556.
Inscription to Jessie Lewars
On a copy of the Scots Musical Museum, in four volumes, presented to her by Burns.
THINE be the volumes, Jessy fair,
And with them take the Poet’s prayer,
That Fate may, in her fairest page,
With ev’ry kindliest, best presage
Of future bliss, enroll thy name: 5
With native worth and spotless fame,
And wakeful caution, still aware
Of ill — but chief, Man’s felon snare;
All blameless joys on earth we find,
And all the treasures of the mind — 10
These be thy guardian and reward;
So prays thy faithful friend, the Bard.
DUMFRIES, June 26, 1769.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
557.
Fairest Maid on Devon’s Banks (Song)
Tune— “Rothiemurchie.”
Chorus — Fairest maid on Devon banks,
Crystal Devon, winding Devon,
Wilt thou lay that frown aside,
And smile as thou wert wont to do?
FULL well thou know’st I love thee dear, 5
Couldst thou to malice lend an ear!
O did not Love exclaim: “Forbear,
Nor use a faithful lover so.”
Fairest maid, &c.
Then come, thou fairest of the fair, 10
Those wonted smiles, O let me share;
And by thy beauteous self I swear,
No love but thine my heart shall know.
Fairest maid, &c.
Chronological List of Poems
Alphabetical List of Poems
The Poems
Mauchline Parish Church stands on the site of St Michael’s Church, dating back to the thirteenth century. In June 1786, Burns appeared before the Session and admitted his responsibility for Jean Armour’s pregnancy. He had to appear in Church on three occasions to receive public rebuke. Two years later, they both appeared again before the Session and it was agreed that their marriage would be finally regularised. Burns made peace with the Church by giving a guinea note for the relief of the poor.
Jean Armour, painted by John Alexander Gilfillan, 1822
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Juvenile Poems (1773–1779)
Handsome Nell (Song)
O Tibbie, I hae seen the day (Song)
I dream’d I lay (Song)
In the Character of a Ruined Farmer (Song)
Tragic Fragment — All villain as I am
The Tarbolton Lasses
Ah, woe is me, my Mother dear
Montgomerie’s Peggy (Song)
The Ploughman’s Life
1780
The Ronalds of the Bennals
Here’s to thy health, my bonie lass (Song)
The Lass of Cessnock Banks (Song)
Bonie Peggy Alison (Song)
Mary Morison (Song)
1781
Winter: A Dirge
A Prayer under the Pressure of Violent Anguish
Paraphrase of the First Psalm
The First Six Verses of the Ninetieth Psalm versified
A Prayer in the Prospect of Death
Stanzas, on the same Occasion
Fickle Fortune: A Fragment
Raging Fortune: A Fragment (Song)
I’ll go and be a Sodger
No Churchman am I (Song)
My Father was a Farmer: A Ballad
John Barleycorn: A Ballad
1783
The Death and Dying Words of Poor Mailie
Poor Mailie’s Elegy
The Rigs o’ Barley (Song)
Composed in August (Song)
My Nanie, O! (Song)
Green Grow the Rashes (Song)
Indeed will I, quo’ Findlay (Song)
1784
Remorse: A Fragment
Epitaph on William Hood, Senior
Epitaph on James Grieve
Epitaph on William Muir
Epitaph on my Ever Honoured Father
Ballad on the American War
Reply to an Announcement by J. Rankine
Epistle to John Rankine
A Poet’s Welcome to his Love-Begotten Daughter
O Leave Novels! (Song)
The Mauchline Lady: A Fragment
My Girl she’s Airy: A Fragment
The Belles of Mauchline
Epitaph on a Noisy Polemic
Epitaph on a Henpecked Squire
Epigram on the said Occasion
Another on the said Occasion
On Tam the Chapman
Epitaph on John Rankine
Lines on the Author’s Death
Man was made to Mourn: A Dirge
The Twa Herds; or, The Holy Tulyie
1785
Epistle to Davie, A Brother Poet
Holy Willie’s Prayer
Epitaph on Holy Willie
Death and Dr. Hornbook
Epistle on J. Lapraik
Second Epistle to J. Lapraik
Epistle to William Simson
One Night as I did Wander
My Jean! (Fragment of a Song)
Rantin, Rovin Robin (Song)
Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux
Epistle to John Goldie, in Kilmarnock
The Holy Fair
Third Epistle to J. Lapraik
Epistle to the Rev. John M’Math
Second Epistle to Davie
Young Peggy Blooms (Song)
Farewell to Ballochmyle (Song)
Her Flwoing Locks (Fragment of a Song)
Halloween
To a Mouse
Epitaph on John Dove, Innkeeper
Epitaph for James Smith
Adam Armour’s Prayer
The Jolly Beggars: A Cantata
For a’ that (Song)
Kissing my Katie (Song)
The Cotter’s Saturday Night
Address to the Deil
Scotch Drink
1786
The Auld Farmer’s New-Year-Morning Salutatio
n to his Auld Mare, Maggie
The Twa Dogs
The Author’s Earnest Cry and Prayer
The Ordination
Epistle to James Smith
The Vision
Suppressed Stanzas of “The Vision”
The Rantin Dog, the Daddie o’t
Here’s his Health in Water
Address to the Unco Guid
The Inventory
To John Kennedy, Dumfries House
To Mr. M’Adam, of Craigen-Gillan
To a Louse
Inscribed on a Work of Hannah More’s
Composed in Spring (Song)
To a Mountain Daisy
To Ruin
The Lament
Despondency: An Ode
To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., Mauchline, recommending a Boy
Versified Reply to an Invitation
Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary? (Song)
My Highland Lassie, O
Epistle to a Young Friend
Address to Beelzebub
A Dream
A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
Versified Note to Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline
The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James’s Lodge, Tarbolton
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies
Farewell to Eliza (Song)
A Bard’s Epitaph
Epitaph for Robert Aiken, Esq.
Epitaph for Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
