The Poetical Works of Robert Burns

​
PORTRAIT OF ROBERT BURNS.
PORTRAIT OF ROBERT BURNS.

PORTRAIT OF ROBERT BURNS.

​

THE POETICAL WORKS

OF

ROBERT BURNS

EDITED BY

ALEXANDER SMITH

With Glossarial Index and Biographical Memoir

FAMILY EDITION. FULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH NEW WOOD ENGRAVINGS. WITH
BORDER BY C. A. VANDERHOFF.

NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES
SUCCESSOR TO WHITE, STOKES, & ALLEN
1887

​

Copyright, 1887,
By FREDERICK A. STOKES,
SUCCESSOR TO WHITE, STOKES, & ALLEN.

​

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Biographical Preface
ix-xxxiii
The Twa Dogs
1
Scotch Drink
6
The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer
9
The Holy Fair
14
Death and Doctor Hornbook
19
The Brigs of Ayr
24
The Ordination
29
The Calf
30
Address to the Deil
31
The Death and Dying Words of Poor Mailie, the Author's only pet Yowe
33
Poor Mailie's Elegy
34
To James Smith
34
A Dream
37
The Vision
38
Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous
42
Tam Samson's Elegy
43
Halloween
45
The Jolly Beggars
49
A Winter Night
54
The Auld Farmer's New-Year Morning Salutation to his Auld Mare Maggie
57
To a Mouse, on turning her up in her nest, with the plough
58
Epistle to Davie, a Brother Poet
59
The Lament, occasioned by the Unfortunate Issue of a Friend's Amour
61
The Cotter's Saturday Night
62
Despondency
66
Winter
67
Man was made to mourn
68
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies
69
A Prayer in the prospect of Death
70
Stanzas on the same occasion
70
Lying at a Reverend Friend's house one night
71
The First Six Verses of the Ninetieth Psalm
71
A Prayer, under the pressure of violent anguish
72
The First Psalm
72
To Miss Logan, with Beattie's Poems
72
To Ruin
72
Epistle to a Young Friend
73
To a Mountain Daisy
74
To a Haggis
75
A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
75
To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet at Church
77
Address to Edinburgh
78
Epistle to John Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard
79
To the Same
80
To William Simpson
82
Epistle to John Rankine
84
Written in Friar's-Carse Hermitage
85
Ode, sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Oswald
86
Elegy on Captain Matthew Henderson
87
Lament of Mary Queen of Scots, on the Approach of Spring
89
Epistle to R. Graham, Esq.
90
To Robert Graham, of Fintra, Esq.
92
Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn
93
Lines sent to Sir John Whiteford, of Whiteford, Bart., with the foregoing Poem
94
Tam O'Shanter
95
On the Late Captain Grose's Peregrinations through Scotland
99
On seeing a Wounded Hare limp by me
100
Address to the Shade of Thomson, on crowning his Bust at Ednam
101
To Miss Cruikshank
101
On the Death of John M'Leod, Esq.
102
The humble Petition of Bruar Water to the noble Duke of Athole
102
The Kirk's Alarm
103
Address to the Toothache
105
Written with a Pencil over the Chimney-piece in the parlour of the inn at Kenmore, Taymouth
106
On the Birth of a Posthumous Child, born in peculiar circumstances of family distress
107
Written with a pencil, standing by the Fall of Fyers, near Lockness
107
Second Epistle to Davie, a Brother Poet
107
The Inventory of the Poet's Goods and Chattels
108
​
The Whistle
109
Sketch, inscribed to the Right Hon. C. J. Fox
111
To Dr. Blacklock
112
Prologue spoken at the Theatre, Dumfries
113
Elegy on the late Miss Burnet
114
The following Poem was written to a gentleman who had sent him a newspaper, and offered to continue it free of expense
115
Lines on an interview with Lord Daer
115
The Rights of Woman. Prologue spoken by Miss Fontenelle
116
Address, spoken by Miss Fontenelle
117
Verses to a Young Lady
118
Poem on Pastoral Poetry
118
Verses to Chloris, with a copy of the last edition of his Poems
119
Poetical Address to Mr. William Tytler
120
Sketch—New-Year Day
121
Extempore, on Mr. William Smellie
121
Inscription for an Altar to Independence
122
Monody on a Lady famed for her Caprice
122
Sonnet, on the Death of Robert Riddel, Esq. of Glenriddel
123
Impromptu, on Mrs. Riddel's birthday
123
To Miss Jessy Lewars, Dumfries
123
Verses written under violent grief
124
Extempore to Mr. Syme, on refusing to dine with him
124
To Mr. Syme
124
Sonnet, on hearing a Thrush sing
124
Poem, addressed to Mr. Mitchell
125
Sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended
125
Poem on Life
126
Epitaph on a Friend
126
To Robert Graham, Esq. of Fintry
127
Verses written at Selkirk
127
A Grace before Dinner
128
Inscription on the Tombstone of the Poet Fergusson
128
A Verse, repeated on taking leave at a place in the Highlands
128
Liberty
129
Fragment of an Ode to the memory of Prince Charles Edward Stuart
129
Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux
130
Answer to Verses addressed to the Poet by the Guidwife of Wauchope House
130
To J. Lapraik
131
The Twa Herds
132
To the Rev. John M'Math
133
Holy Willie's Prayer
135
Epitaph on Holy Willie
137
On scaring some Water Fowl in Loch-Turit
137
To Gavin Hamilton, Esq. Mauchline
138
To Captain Riddel, Glenriddel
138
Epistle to Mr. M'Adam
139
To Terraughty, on his Birthday
139
Verses intended to be written below noble Earl's picture
140
To a Lady, with a present of a pair of drinking-glasses
140
Elegy on the year 1788
140
The Vowels
141
Sketch
141
Verses written under the Portrait of Fergusson the Poet
142
Lament written at a time when the Poet was about to leave Scotland
142
Prologue for Mr. Sutherland's benefit
143
On the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair
144
Delia
145
Verses to an old Sweetheart, then married
145
The Poet's Welcome to his Illegitimate Child
146
To Miss Ferrier
146
Letter to John Goudie, Kilmarnock
147
Letter to James Tait, Glenconnor
147
Epistle to Hugh Parker
148
Epistle from Esopus to Maria
149
A Farewell
150
The Farewell
151
On a Suicide
151
The League and Covenant
151
Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq.
152
Verses on the Destruction of the Woods near Drumlanrig
155
Stanzas on the Duke of Queensberry
155
Epistle to Major Logan
156
To Mr. John Kennedy
157
To John M'Murdo, Esq.
157
Lines written at Loudon Manse
157
Epitaph on the Poet's Daughter
158
Epitaph on Gabriel Richardson
158
On Stirling
158
Lines on being told that the above Verses would affect his prospects
158
The Reply
158
Address of Beelzebub to the President of the Highland Society
159
On the Death of Robert Dundas, Esq.
160
Orthodox, Orthodox. A Second Version of The Kirk's Alarm
161
The Selkirk Grace
162
Elegy on the Death of Peg Nicholson
163
Written on a Blank Leaf of one of Miss Hannah More's Works, which she had given him
163
On the Death of a Lap-dog, named Echo
163
On seeing Miss Fontenelle in a Favourite Character
163
Epitaph on Miss Jessy Lewars
164
The Recovery of Jessy Lewars
164
The Kirk of Lamington
164
Inscription on a Goblet
164
The Book-worms
164
On Robert Riddel
165
Willie Chalmers
165
On Miss Jessy Lewars
165
The Toad-eater
165
Lines written on a Bank Note
166
Remorse
166
The Toast
166
​
To John Taylor
167
To ———
167
There's Naethin' like the Honest Nappy
167
Fragment
167
Epigram on a Noted Coxcomb
167
'In Vain Would Prudence'
168
'Though Fickle Fortune'
168
The Loyal Natives' Verses
168
Burns—Extempore
168
'I Burn, I Burn'
169
Tam the Chapman
169
To Dr. Maxwell, on Miss Jessy Staig's Recovery
169
Prologue, spoken by Mr. Woods, on his benefit night
170
Nature's Law. A Poem humbly inscribed to G. H. Esq.
171
The Cats Like Kitchen
171
Poverty
171
Tragic Fragment
172
Extempore. Pinned to a Lady's Coach
172
Lines on being asked why God had made Miss Davies so little and Mrs. — so large
172
Fragments
173
Verses written on a Window of the Inn at Carron
174
Epigram. Written at Inverary
174
Verses addressed to J. Rankine
174
Lines said to have been written by Burns, while on his Death-bed, to John Rankine
175
Lines written Extempore in a Lady's Pocket Book
175
The Henpeck'd Husband
175
Extempore Lines, in answer to a Card from an Intimate Friend of Burns
175
Answer to a Poetical Epistle sent the Author by a Tailor
176
A Toast. Given at a meeting of the Dumfriesshire Volunteers
177
On seeing the beautiful seat of Lord Galloway
177
On the Same
177
On the Same
177
To the Same, on the Author being threatened with his Resentment
177
Epitaph on a Henpeck'd Country Squire
178
Epigram on said occasion
178
Another
178
On hearing that there was Falsehood in the Rev. Dr. B———'s very Looks
178
Extemporaneous Effusion, on being appointed to the Excise
178
Lines written on a Window at the King's Arms Tavern, Dumfries
179
On a Schoolmaster in Cleish Parish, Fifeshire
179
Lines written and presented to Mrs. Kemble
179
Epitaph on William Nicol
179
Verses to J. Rankine
180
Extempore in the Court of Session
180
Epitaph on John Dove
180
Epitaph on a Wag in Mauchline
180
Lines written on the Window of the Globe Tavern, Dumfries
181
Epigram on Captain Francis Grose
181
Lines written under the picture of the celebrated Miss Burns
181
On Miss J. Scott of Ayr
181
Epitaph on John Bushby
181
Epigram on Elphinstone's Translation of Martial's Epigrams
182
Epitaph on a Country Laird
182
Epitaph on a Noisy Polemic
182
Epitaph on Wee Johnny
182
Epitaph on a celebrated Ruling Elder
182
Epitaph for Robert Aiken, Esq.
183
Epitaph for Gavin Hamilton, Esq.
183
Epitaph on my Father
183
Epitaph on a Person nicknamed "The Marquis"
183
On Himself
183
Epitaph on Walter S———
184
Grace before Meat
184
On Commissary Goldie's Brains
184
Impromptu
184
Impromptu
184
Epigram
184
A Bard's Epitaph
185
Addressed to a Lady whom the Author feared he had offended
185
Lines inscribed on a platter
185
To a Painter
185
On Mr. M'Murdo
186
To ———
186
To a Lady who was looking up the Text during Sermon
186
To ———
186
Lines written on a Tumbler
187
On Mr. W. Cruikshank, of the High School, Edinburgh
187

SONGS.

The Lass o' Ballochmyle
188
Naebody
188
Song of Death
189
Auld Rob Morris
189
My ain kind Dearie O
190
My Wife's a Winsome Wee Thing
190
Duncan Gray
190
O Poortith
191
Lord Gregory
191
Galla Water
192
There was a Lass
192
Logan Braes
193
Phillis the Fair
193
Open the Door to me, Oh!
194
​
Meg o' the Mill
194
Jessie
195
Wandering Willie
195
By Allan Stream
196
Husband, Husband, cease your Strife
196
Had I a Cave
197
Whistle, and I'll come to you, my Lad
197
Deluded Swain
198
Song
198
Wilt thou be my Dearie
198
Banks of Cree
199
On the Seas and far away
199
Hark! the Mavis
200
Lassie wi' the lint-white locks
200
She says she lo'es me best of a'
201
The Lover's Morning Salute to his Mistress
201
How lang and dreary
202
The Auld Man
202
Farewell thou Stream
202
Contented wi' little
203
My Nannie's awa
203
Sweet fa's the Eve
204
O Lassie, art thou sleeping yet?
204
Song
205
'Twas na her bonie blue e'e
205
Address to the Woodlark
206
How cruel are the Parents
206
Mark yonder Pomp
206
I see a Form, I see a Face
207
O bonie was yon rosy Brier
207
Stay, my Charmer
207
Last May a Braw Wooer
208
Hey for a Lass wi' a Tocher
209
Altho' thou maun never be mine
209
The Lazy Mist
210
My Tocher's the Jewel
210
Forlorn, my Love
211
The young Highland Rover
211
Strathallan's Lament
211
The Birks of Aberfeldy
212
Full well thou know'st
212
Raving Winds around her blowing
212
Musing on the roaring Ocean
213
Blithe was she
213
Peggy's Charms
213
A Rose-bud by my early Walk
214
Tibbie, I hae seen the Day
214
I love my Jean
215
O, were I on Parnassus' Hill!
215
The Braes o' Ballochmyle
215
The Blissful Day
216
The Happy Trio
216
John Anderson, my Jo
216
Tam Glen
217
What can a Young Lassie do wi' an Auld Man?
217
The Blue-eyed Lassie
218
Gane is the Day
218
O, for ane and twenty, Tam!
218
Bessy and her Spinnin Wheel
219
Fair Eliza
219
Louis, what reck I by thee?
219
The Banks of Nith
220
The Bonie Wee Thing
220
Country Lassie
220
O May, thy Morn
221
The Banks o' Doon
221
Version printed in the Musical Museum
221
She's fair and fause
221
The Posie
222
Afton Water
222
Gloomy December
223
Behold the hour
224
Willie's Wife
224
Bonie Bell
224
For the sake of Somebody
225
The Lovely Lass of Inverness
225
A red, red Rose
225
Peggy's Charms
225
O, wat ye wha's in yon Town?
226
The Highland Lassie
226
Jockey's ta'en the parting Kiss
227
Bonie Ann
227
Up in the Morning early
227
My bonie Mary
227
A Vision
228
O, wert thou in the cauld Blast
228
My heart's in the Highlands
229
There's a Youth in this City
229
I dream'd I lay where Flowers were springing
230
Farewell to Nancy
230
The rantin Dog the Daddie o't
230
Wha is that at my Bower Door?
231
I do confess thou art sae fair
231
Out over the Forth
231
Tho' cruel Fate
231
Yon wild mossy Mountains
232
The De'il's awa wi' the Exciseman
232
Where are the joys
233
Banks of Devon
233
The bonie Blink o' Mary's ee
234
The bonie Lad that's far away
234
Streams that glide
234
Blithe hae I been on yon Hill
235
The gowden Locks of Anna
235
O were my Love yon Lilac fair
235
Adown winding Nith
236
My Chloris
236
Come, let me take thee
237
Thou hast left me ever, Jamie
237
On Chloris being ill
237
Canst thou leave me thus
238
O saw ye my dear
238
Charming Month of May
238
Song
238
John Barleycorn
239
Why, why tell thy Lover
239
O Philly
240
Farewell to Eliza
240
Let not Woman e'er complain
241
The Rigs o' Barley
241
My Nanie, O
241
Now westlin Winds
242
When Guilford good our Pilot stood
243
​
Caledonia
244
The big-bellied Bottle
245
Green grow the Rashes
246
The Author's Farewell to his native Country
246
The Farewell
247
For a' that and a' that
247
And maun I still on Menie doat
248
The gallant Weaver
248
To Mr. Cunningham
249
Auld Lang Syne
249
Dainty Davie
250
Clarinda
250
Bannockburn
250
Highland Mary
251
The Dumfries Volunteers
251
On the Battle of Sheriff-Muir
252
Whistle owre the Lave o't
252
O wha is she that lo'es me
253
Captain Grose
253
O, once I lov'd a bonie Lass
254
A Bottle and Friend
254
I'll kiss thee yet
254
Young Jockey
254
The Dean of Faculty
255
M'Pherson's Farewell
255
On Cessnock Banks
256
Young Peggy
257
I'll ay ca' in by yon Town
257
Prayer for Mary
257
There was a Lad
258
There'll never be Peace till Jamie comes hame
258
To Mary
259
Mary Morison
259
A Mother's Lament for the Death of her Son
259
The Soger's Return
260
Bonie Lesley
260
Amang the Trees
261
On Sensibility
261
Sweetest May
261
My Father was a Farmer
262
When first I came to Stewart Kyle
263
Montgomerie's Peggy
263
O raging Fortune's Withering Blast
263
Women's Minds
263
On a Bank of Flowers
264
Evan Banks
264
To Mary in Heaven
265
To Mary
265
Fragment
265
Address to General Dumourier
266
One Night as I did wander
266
I'm owre young to marry yet
266
Damon and Sylvia
266
Here's a Health to them that's awa
267
O leave Novels
267
The Torbolton Lasses
267
The Torbolton Lasses
268
The Winter it is past
269
The Chevalier's Lament
270
The Belles of Mauchline
270
Wee Willie
270
My Lady's Gown there's Gairs upon't
271
Robin shure in Hairst
271
O why the Deuce
271
The Banks of Nith
272
Bonie Peg
272
O guid Ale comes
272
O lay thy loof in mine
272
O ay my Wife she dang me
272
Polly Stewart
273
The Deuk's dang o'er my Daddie
273
The Union
273
There was a bonie Lass
273
The five Carlins
274
My Harry was a Gallant gay
275
As down the Burn they took their way
275
Here's his Health in Water
275
The Lass that made the Bed to me
276
Craigie-burn-wood
276
Lady Onlie
277
Our Thrissles flourished fresh and fair
277
As I was a-wandering
278
Tibbie Dunbar
278
Had I the Wyte
279
Her Daddie forbad
279
Hey, the dusty Miller
279
Braw Lads of Galla Water
280
The Lass of Ecclefechan
280
Hee Balou
280
The Cardin' o't
280
Peg-a-Ramsey
281
Coming through the Rye
281
Come boat me o'er to Charlie
281
Bannocks o' Barley
281
The joyful Widower
282
It is na, Jean, thy bonie face
282
The Slave's Lament
282
Here's to thy Health, my bonie Lass
283
My heart was ance
283
Jamie, come try me
284
Landlady, count the Lawin
284
My Love she's but a Lassie yet
284
The Captain's Lady
284
Lady Mary Ann
285
Simmer's a pleasant Time
285
Sae far awa
285
Theniel Menzie's bonie Mary
286
The Farewell
286
Rattlin', roarin' Willie
286
Lovely Davies
287
Kenmure's on and awa
287
O steer her up
287
The blude red Rose at Yule may blaw
288
O, whar did ye get
288
Merry hae I been teethin' a Heckle
289
O Mally's meek, Mally's sweet
289
The Fête Champetre
290
Nithsdale's welcome Hame
290
The Highland Widow's Lament
291
The tither Morn
291
The Ploughman
292
The Cooper o' Cuddie
292
Whare hae ye been
292
​
The Highland Laddie
293
Cock up your Beaver
293
The Carles of Dysart
293
My Hoggie
293
The Carle of Kellyburn Braes
294
The Tailor
295
The weary Pund o' Tow
296
Weary fa' you, Duncan Gray
296
When I think on the happy Days
296
The Heron Ballads. First Ballad
297
The Election. Second Ballad
297
An excellent new Song. Third Ballad
299
John Bushby's Lamentation
299
Young Jamie, pride of a' the plain
300
Ye sons of Old Killie
301
Ye Jacobites by name
301
Wae is my Heart
302
There was a Lass
302
The Heather was blooming
303
Eppie M'Nab
303
The Collier Laddie
304
Song — Ah, Chloris
304
Katharine Jaffray
304
Whan I sleep, I dream
304
Gudeen to you, Kimmer
305
There's News, Lasses
305
O that I had ne'er been married
305
An O! my Eppie
305
Frae the Friends and Land I love
306
Scroggam
306
The bonie Lass of Albany
306
The Laddies by the Banks o' Nith
307
Song
307
Appendix:—
Elegy
309
Extempore. To Mr. Gavin Hamilton
311
Versicles on Sign-posts
311
Patient Stupidity
311
0
Notes
312
Glossary
341
Index of First Lines
357


This work was published before January 1, 1930, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.

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